Source: https://www.nad.org/resources/education/higher-education/private-colleges-and-other-post-secondary-institutions/
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 13:44:21+00:00

Document:
This memorandum addresses the obligations of private colleges and universities to provide auxiliary aids and services to deaf and hard of hearing students. There are two major federal laws which create this obligation. Since 1973, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1 973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, has required colleges and universities which receive any federal financial assistance to provide qualified interpreters, captioning (now called CART), assistive listening devices, and other auxiliary aids and services to deaf and hard of hearing students. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), P.L. 101-336, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq., now requires this of all post-secondary education institutions, regardless of whether or not they receive federal financial assistance.
Colleges and other post-secondary institutions which receive any form of financial assistance or loans, for the institution or for students attending the institution, are federal financial recipients pursuant to Section 504. The receipt of that funding by any component of the institution requires every program within the institution to comply with the civil rights requirements imposed by the receipt of federal funding. Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1978, 29 U.S.C. § 794(b).
45 Fed.Reg. 30954 (Friday, May 9, 1980).
Many deaf and hard of hearing students are eligible for vocational rehabilitation assistance, which has a primary obligation to provide interpreter services. However, a college may not require students to apply for vocational rehabilitation assistance, and when the student is not a client of vocational rehabilitation, or when funding for interpreters is not forthcoming from vocational rehabilitation, the institution is responsible for this expense. See generally, Patrick, 7NDLR 470 (1995).
The responsibility of the institution in the absence of vocational rehabilitation involvement is clear. Every court which has reviewed this issue has determined that colleges and post-secondary institutions are obligated to provide qualified interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services for deaf and hard of hearing students who are not recipients of vocational rehabilitation. United States v. Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, 908 F.2d 740 (11th Cir. 1990); Camenisch v. University of Texas, 616 F.2d 127 (5th Cir. 1980), vacated as moot, 4 51 U.S. 390 (1981); Jones v. Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, 504 F. Supp. 1244, fn. 56 (N.D. Ill. 1981), aff’d 689 F.2d 724 (7th Cir. 1982); Crawford v. University of North Carolina, 440 F. Supp. 1047 (M.D.N.C. 1977); Herbold v. Trustees of the California State Universities and Colleges, C-78-1358-RHS (ND Cal. 1978); and Barnes v. Converse College, 436 F. Supp. 635 (D.S.C. 1977).
Moreover, the U.S. Department of Education and, before it, the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare have issued findings of violation against several post secondary institutions for not providing qualified interpreter services for deaf students. In Re Johnson State College, Docket No. 01-89-2010 (Region I); Manley v. Paterson College, Docket No. 79-0001 NE (Region II); Warso v. Southern Florida University, Docket No. 0419780109 (Region IV); and Arnold v. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Docket No.04107902090 (Region IV).
The second federal statute which creates the obligation for colleges and universities to provide auxiliary aids and services is Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title III of the ADA provides people with disabilities with the rights to equal access to public accommodations. Title III covers a wide range of places, including private schools, institutions and businesses offering educational services at every level of education. These public accommodations are required to provide auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication with deaf and hard of hearing people. The ADA also requires the removal of structural communication barriers that are in existing facilities, by the installation of flashing alarm systems, permanent signage, and adequate sound buffers.
For some deaf and hard of hearing persons who do not use sign language, the auxiliary aid or service which a college or university should provide may be computer-aided real-time transcription, or CART services. A trained operator enters everything which is spoken in a class into a computer, which simultaneously transcribes this onto a computer screen for the deaf or hard of hearing student.
In all cases, the deaf or hard of hearing student should be consulted as to the appropriate method of ensuring effective communication.
The costs for provision of these auxiliary aids or services may not be imposed upon the individual with disabilities. 28 C.F.R. § 36.301(c).
Any private entity that offers examinations or courses related to applications, licensing, certification, or credentialing for secondary or post-secondary education, professional, or trade purposes shall offer such examinations or courses in a place and manner accessible to persons with disabilities or offer alternative accessible arrangements for such individuals.
A private entity that offers a course covered by this section shall provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services for persons with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills. . . Auxiliary aids and services required by this section may include. . . interpreters . . .
The ADA applies to all the activities of the institution, including extracurricular activities and activities that take place outside of the classroom.
Finally, colleges and universities have duties to make physical facilities accessible to deaf and hard of hearing students in dormitories, university buildings, and other facilities. The standards for architectural accommodations include flashing light alarms, visible doorbells and other signaling devices, and access to captioned television and telecommunications equipment.
Few administrators have expertise about the broad range of accommodations that are needed for individuals with disabilities. The Analysis to this regulation makes it clear that Congress, as well as the Department of Justice, “expects that public accommodations will consult with the individual with a disability before providing a particular auxiliary aid or service.” 56 Fed. Reg. at 35567.

References: § 794
 § 12181
 § 794
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 § 36