PENNSYLVANIA — Attorney General Michelle Henry this week announced settlements with two leading nonprofit companies that provide interpretation services in the Commonwealth. The settlements come after complaints of substandard communication were reported at Pennsylvania hospitals.
The Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc. (DHCC) and the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services, Inc. (HDS) have agreed to enforceable assurances as part of the settlement. These assurances commit both companies to only assign qualified interpreters who can facilitate effective communication. Both DHCC and HDS deny conducting their businesses in violation of any laws.
The Office of Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section investigated the complaints from two individuals regarding subpar American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services at hospitals in Philadelphia and Erie, which had contracted with DHCC and HDS respectively.
Attorney General Henry acknowledged the crucial role these organizations play, stating, “The services provided by these two organizations are vital to enable people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate effectively and lead lives of equal opportunity. This is particularly important when making health care decisions, and we commend DHCC and HDS for committing to improve going forward.”
As part of the settlement, DHCC will also donate $5,000 to the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf.
State and federal disability laws mandate that businesses and other public accommodations take reasonable measures to ensure effective communication with persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Both DHCC and HDS were found to have assigned interpreters to the hospitals who were not registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, as required by Pennsylvania’s Sign Language Interpreter and Transliterator State Registration Act, or “Act 57”. Under the settlement terms, both DHCC and HDS have agreed to prioritize registered interpreters when making assignments.
The Office of Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section handled this matter.
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