Friday, March 30, 2018
Today the Justice Department reached a settlement agreement with the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under the agreement, SCDC will ensure that inmates with hearing disabilities are provided effective communication and the opportunity to participate equally in SCDC’s services, programs, and activities.
The Department's investigation found that SCDC failed to provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids and services to inmates with hearing disabilities and excluded their participation in vocational and religious programs because they are deaf.
The agreement requires SCDC to provide services equal to those provided to inmates who are not deaf including auxiliary aides and services and qualified interpreters, in a timely manner, to ensure effective communication with the SCDC inmates with hearing disabilities. The agreement ensures that inmates with hearing disabilities will not be excluded from participating in SCDC’s programs including vocational and religious services. SCDC will also provide telecommunication services so that inmates with hearing disabilities may communicate with their families and attorneys the same as other inmates.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA or this agreement may call the toll-free ADA Information Line
at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA website at https://www.ada.gov.
Article Credit: U.S. Department of Justice