ASL RESOURCE PAGE

ASL Resource Page

What is ASL?

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language. With signing, the brain processes linguistic information through the eyes. The shape, placement, and movement of the hands, as well as facial expressions and body movements, all play important parts in conveying grammatical information.

What can the Great Lakes provide?

• Provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws;
• Resources which include Deaf Communication Rights Card, Q&A booklets and factsheets.

To request resources please call (800) 949-4232 (V) or (312) 767-0377 (VP).

Service Animals Series

• Part 1 - Service Animals and the ADA
  This video discusses the use of service animals under the ADA per the Justice Department's definition and requirements for Title II & III.
• Part 2 - Service Animals in Employment Settings
  This video discusses the use of service animals under the ADA per the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's definition and and requirements for Title I.
• Part 3 - Service Animals and Transportation
  This video discusses the use of service animals under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 per the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration' definition and requirements
• Part 4 - Service Animals and Educational Settings
  This video discusses the use of service animals under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act per the Department of Education's definition and requirements.
• Part 5 - Service Animals and Housing
  This video discusses the use of service animals under the Fair Housing Act per the Department of Housing's definition and requirements.
• Part 6 - Service Animals and Flight Travel
  This video discusses the use of service animals under the Air Carriers Access Act per the Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division's definition and requirements.

Tips on Requesting Interpreters

• Requesting Interpreter - No Interpreters On Staff
  This video discusses what to do when an entity denies your request for an interpreter stating that they do not provide interpreters because they have staff members who sign.
• Requesting Interpreter - VRI as an accommodation
  This video discusses the legality and requirements of VRI as an accommodation. It discusses what to do if the VRI equipment does not work properly or if you prefer a live interpreter instead of VRI.
• Requesting Interpreter - Friend or family member as Interpreter
  This video discusses what to do when an entity asks you you bring a friend or family member to interpret for an appointment or event.
• Requesting Interpreter - Paying for Interpreter
  This video discusses what to do when an entity tells you that if you want an interpreter for your event or appointment, that you have to pay for it.
• Requesting Interpreter - Lipreading
  This video discusses what to do when an entity denies your request for an interpreter and asks you to make do with lipreading instead.

General Category

• Section 508 Best Practices Webinar
  This series of webinars will address a variety of issues associated with ensuring federal agencies have the knowledge they need to meet their obligations under Section 508. The series is co-sponsored by the Accessibility Committee of the CIO Council, the U. S. Access Board, and eFedLink/ODEP. The sessions are 90 minutes in length. Real-Time captioning and Video Sign Language Interpreter are available for each session and will be broadcast via the webinar platform. A telephone option for receiving audio is also available (non-toll free number).

ADA Videos

• Communication Rights Card
  The Great Lakes ADA Center discusses the right to effective communication per the Americans with Disabilities Act for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons and offers a free resource to assist in self-advocacy. This resource is the size of a business card and lists information and references about obligations to provide accommodations for accessible and effective communication under the ADA. If you or someone you know is interested in acquiring one of these cards, please contact us at info@adagreatlakes.org.
• ADA25: #3 of 25 -- Title I
  National Association of the Deaf presents an explanation of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act in American Sign Language. Title I pertains to employment. The scope of Title I is broad, protecting employee rights in all stages of employment, including applying and hiring, job performance, job training, conditions, promotion and termination.
• ADA25: #4 of 25 - Title II
  National Association of the Deaf presents an explanation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act in American Sign Language. Title II of the ADA addresses the right of access to public services by individuals with disabilities, and stipulates what public entities must do to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people.
• ADA25: #5 of 25 - Title III
  National Association of the Deaf presents an explanation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act in American Sign Language. Title III of the ADA specifies that no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations, or privately run business open to the public. In the past, only businesses and service agencies receiving federal monies were required to make their facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. Title III, however, mandates the accessibility of all services, even those privately owned, and requires that all new places of public accommodation and commercial facilities be designed and constructed so as to be readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.
• ADA25: #6 of 25 -Title IV
  National Association of the Deaf presents an explanation of Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act in American Sign Language. Title IV of the ADA requires that telephone companies provide telecommunication relay services. The relay services must provide speech-impaired or hearing-impaired individuals who use non-voice terminal devices opportunities for communication that are equivalent to those provided to other customers. Also covered under ADA Title IV are Closed Captioning services.
• Title V:
  The Great Lakes ADA Center presents a translation of Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act in American Sign Language. Title V of the ADA contains supplemental regulations that are not explicitly covered in other parts of the ADA.