Under a new settlement with the federal government, the New York City Housing Authority will provide programs, services and communication aids for tenants who are deaf or hard of hearing, resolving allegations that it discriminated against residents with those disabilities.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said the U.S. government on Tuesday entered into a settlement agreement with NYCHA to resolve allegations that the public housing authority violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) by discriminating against people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the “services, programs, or activities of a public entity.” As NYCHA is a “public entity,” it must comply with Title II, Nocella said.
Under the terms of the settlement, NYCHA agreed to take steps to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including by creating signs and videos in American Sign Language to make deaf and hard of hearing individuals aware that free auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpretation services and accessible devices such as visual doorbells, are available, prosecutors said.
Additionally, NYCHA will update its forms to allow deaf or hard of hearing individuals to request such services. Employees of NYCHA who interact regularly with tenants or applicants will also receive training in effective communication and ADA compliance, according to Nocella.
“The ADA requires NYCHA to communicate effectively and provide auxiliary aids and services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing,” Nocella said in a statement. “Today’s settlement ensures that individual with disabilities receive appropriate services. This office will continue to enforce the ADA and its protections against discrimination for people with disabilities.”
NYCHA has appointed an ADA coordinator who will oversee implementation of the agreement’s provisions, according to a NYCHA spokesperson.
"As part of this effort, NYCHA will enhance current forms, policies, and procedures, train staff, and provide additional resources as needed," a statement from the spokesperson said. "Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing will be able to directly request and receive auxiliary aids and services in a timely manner, such as on-demand ASL interpretation. We look forward to continuing this important work, which will ensure that residents are able to effectively communicate with NYCHA staff and meaningfully participate in NYCHA's programs, services and activities."
