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Introduction
The ADA requires that employers, state and local governments, and businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities. The goal is to ensure that communication with people with these disabilities is equally effective as communication with people without disabilities. The following publications provide information regarding effective communication:
- Effective Communication
- Tips for Communicating by Telephone with Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Effective Accommodation Practices (EAP) Series: Disability Etiquette Tips for Speaking Engagements
Situations and Solutions:

A municipality recently hired a code inspector who is deaf.
The city decided to provide an interpreter for training and a cell phone with texting to use when working in the field. The inspector was able to inspect buildings and enforce the building codes with these accommodations.

A customer service representative with progressive vision loss needed to access information on his computer screen while talking with customers on the phone.
Her employer provided screen reading software and a dual input headset.

A sales person with dyslexia was having difficulty reading new product literature.
Her employer provided a reader.

A receptionist who was recovering from vocal surgery had difficulty speaking loudly enough for customers to hear her when she greeted them.
She also experienced vocal fatigue when speaking on the phone. Her employer purchased a voice amplifier for face to face use and one designed for telephone use as well, so that she did not have to strain her voice to speak more loudly.

An accountant who was hard of hearing had to periodically attend staff meetings, but could not hear when multiple people spoke.
His employer provided an assistive listening device.
JAN Publications & Articles regarding Effective Communication
Publications
Accommodation and Compliance Series
Articles
Blog Posts
- No Blog Posts available for Effective Communication
Events Regarding Effective Communication
- Upcoming Events
- Past Recorded Module
- Past In-person Training
- Past Exhibit Booths
- Past Remote Monthly Series Training
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DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceApril 30, 2018
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DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceMay 1, 2018
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DMEC - FMLA/ADA Employer Compliance ConferenceMay 1, 2018
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APSE Employment First, Employment for All National ConferenceJune 26, 2018
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APSE Employment First, Employment for All National ConferenceJune 27, 2018
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
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JAN - Ask the JAN Psychiatric TeamMay 15, 2018
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JAN - The USBLN’s Going for Gold (GFG) Program: Lessons Learned for Increasing Hiring of People with DisabilitiesJune 12, 2018
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ADA UpdateJuly 17, 2018
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Ask the Cognitive TeamAugust 21, 2018
Presenters:
- Melanie Whetzel , Lead Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
- Sarah Small , Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
- Beth Loy , Principal Consultant/Technical Specialist
Transcripts
Presentations
Presenters:
- Louis E. Orslene , JAN Co-Director
- Leslie Wilson, M.S., US Business Leadership Network’s Vice President, Workplace Initiatives
- Deb Dagit, Deb Dagit Diversity LLC
Transcripts
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Linda Carter Batiste , Principal Consultant/Legislative Specialist
- Jeanne Goldberg, Senior Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Transcripts
Presentations
Handouts
Presenters:
- Melanie Whetzel , Lead Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
- Sarah Small , Consultant – Cognitive/Neurological Team
Presentations
Transcripts
Other Information Regarding Effective Communication
External Links
- Effective Communication
- Effective Interaction: Communicating With and About People with Disabilities in the Workplace
- Frequently Asked Questions on Effective Communication for Students with Hearing, Vision, or Speech Disabilities in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
- General Effective Communication Requirements under Title II of the ADA
- Model Policy for Law Enforcement on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing