Episode 117: ADA and Effective Communication in Health Care Settings with the Department of Justice

For more information, bios, transcripts, and resources visit adalive.org/episodes/episode-117/ In the United States, about 1 in every 8 people of all ages has some form of hearing loss. Behind arthritis and heart disease, hearing loss is the third most common disability. (Source: HealthyHearing.com) Hearing loss is most significant amongst seniors. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that 1 in 3 seniors in the United States who are ages 65 to 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of the seniors over age 75 have difficulty hearing. (Source: https://adata.org/factsheet/healthcare-and-face-coverings) In this episode, two Assistant United States attorneys talk about the rights of people with hearing loss, Deafness, or other communication needs in health care settings. We will highlight cases and settlement agreements the Department of Justice has handled that deal with these rights under the ADA. Our guests are: • Steve Gordon is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator and Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. • Kara Sweet is the Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.