Removing Communication Barriers to Healthcare for D/deaf People
Through the generous support of The Colorado Health Foundation, Disability Law United launched a project in January 2021 to investigate and improve access to healthcare for D/deaf people in Colorado. We found that many healthcare providers were not following the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
To ensure self-advocates and healthcare providers have the information they need to follow those requirements, Disability Law United, with the support of partners WellPower and Fox & Robertson, created a number of resources, including but not limited to videos of common issues and best practices for effective communication with D/deaf patients; a legal guide describing the applicable law; a self-advocacy guide; and a sample healthcare provider policy template.
They are available below.
Resources
- Effective Communications in Healthcare Settings: Legal Guide
- Effective Communications in Healthcare Settings: Self-Advocacy Guide
- Sample Healthcare Provider Policy Template
- This template is exemplary and does not constitute legal advice by Disability Law United. Organizations should always review current federal, state and local laws and regulations to ensure that they are in full compliance with the applicable laws.
- Effective Communications in Healthcare Settings: Advocacy Videos
- On our YouTube channel, you will find an introduction video and six scenario videos narrating access issues and best practices for effective communication.