Rod Jex, an accountant who is deaf, prepared for the national exam by enrolling in a Becker CPA Review course, which consisted of several four hour weeknight and eight hour Saturday classes. Becker CPA Review provides preparatory courses to more than 10,000 students nationwide every year. More than one third of the students passing the CPA exam each year are Becker course graduates. However, Becker refused Rod's repeated requests to provide a sign language interpreter, and instead offered to provide him with copies of instructors' notes, transcripts of pre-recorded audio lectures, and copies of overhead transparencies used during the class. But Rod believed this was inadequate because instructors routinely stop the recorded lecture to provide additional information or illustrate specific points, sometimes more than 40 times during a single class.
Instructors also lead class discussions, answer questions, and supervise students' written work.
Without an interpreter, Rod was unable to ask questions, participate in class discussions, or interact on any level with his peers. In short, he was unable to fully participate in the course. In a settlement resolving the first lawsuit filed by the Department under the ADA, Becker CPA Review agreed to change its policy and provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids and services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Becker also agreed to appoint a national ADA coordinator and to train its staff regarding the new policy. An essential requirement for partnership in major accounting firms throughout the country, the professional CPA license is considered to be a highly valuable and prestigious career asset for an accountant.