Civil Rights Program

  • Do you need accommodations to do your job – specialty phone equipment, employment and benefits information given to you in sign language, interpreters for staff meetings and other important communications that other employees have access to? Are you faced with more disciplinary complaints that are related to the hearing loss or deafness?
  • Did the organizers of a public hearing or meeting refuse to provide CART captioning services when you requested them so you could understand what was said by reading the captions?
  • Are you being denied needed access and language services by an adult education program, college or university because you are D/deaf or Hard of Hearing? Is your deaf, hard of hearing or signing/gesturing child not getting an equal education – including access to after school activities – as their hearing counterparts?
  • Do you use sign language and are faced with service providers refusing to use sign language interpreters? Did a provider try to use Video Remote Interpreting when it was not appropriate or unsuccessful?

These are just a few of the examples of discrimination based on hearing status that DRM Deaf Advocacy staff can help with. We offer free consultation, advocacy and individual support at meetings and on the job, with the full weight of ADA and Maine Human Rights law behind them.

The Scribe program can help people with hearing loss understand complex material written in English. Call ahead for an appointment to be sure someone is available to help you. Deaf Services staff are fluent in American Sign Language and knowledgeable about technology that can help us (and others) communicate with you.

DRM Deaf Services hosts an annual state-wide conference in June, and sponsors educational workshops and community-building events throughout the year.

DRM also promotes systemic change by working directly with Maine agencies and legislators on matters of importance to the D/deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened people of Maine. We provide specialized training to employers, organizations and groups about better serving the estimated 17% of Maine people who have a hearing loss.

DRM does NOT provide assistance with criminal or family law cases; we can refer to other lawyers who do take these cases and we educate those lawyers about using interpreters and other communication techniques.

 Resources

HCBS Settings Rule: Basics & Advocacy

People with Disabilities Vote! (ASL)

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