Opinion ID: 775971
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Title II Regulations Applicable to MCDC and the Vicinage

Text: 40 Generally, regulations require public entities to take appropriate steps to ensure that communication with a disabled person is as effective as communication with others. 28 C.F.R. S 35.160(a). Furthermore,[w]here necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity, a public entity must furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services. Id. at 35.160(b)(1). 41 The lone regulatory limitation on this duty is embodied in Section 35.164 of the subpart. Section 35.164 provides that a public entity may be relieved of its duty only upon proving that, considering all funding and operating resources available, the proposed action would result in either (1) a fundamental alteration in the nature of the service, program or activity or (2) undue financial or administrative burdens. To qualify for the Section 35.164 exemption, a public entity must provide a written statement explaining its conclusions. A public entity claiming the exemption must also take alternative action not resulting in such an alteration or burden, but nevertheless ensuring, to the maximum extent possible, that disabled individuals receive the public entity's benefits and/or services. 42 In determining what type of auxiliary aid and service is necessary, a public entity shall give primary consideration to the requests of the individual with disabilities. Id. at 35.160(b)(2). 10 For deaf and hearing-impaired persons, auxiliary aids and services include: 43 Qualified interpreters, notetakers, transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers, assistive listening devices, assistive listening systems, telephones compatible with hearing aids, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDD's), videotext displays, or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments. 44