Service Fund
The Service Fund pays for communication access services for deaf, deaf-blind
and hard of hearing persons in certain situations not covered under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Communication access services that the Service Fund covers are sign language
interpreting and real time captioning that make communication possible for
persons who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing and between them and hearing
persons in various situations. ADA requires most organizations, both profit and
non-profit, businesses, employment sectors and other entities to cover
communication access services but if an entity is facing an undue hardship (see
footnote), the Service Fund may help.
Examples of situations that the Service Fund may cover:
- emergency or immediate medical or mental health situations
- support groups (examples: 12-step, cancer survivors, single parent
meetings)
- job-related situations for individuals who do not receive DVR services
- funerals and memorial services
- meetings involving housing and shelter matters
- services, meetings or other events sponsored by organizations or agencies
that do not receive federal funds
- meetings that involve developing new programs, agencies, or organizations
to promote awareness of issues relating to deaf, deaf-blind or hard of
hearing persons
To request financial assistance through the Office for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing (ODHH) interpreter/captionist service funds, please submit a request in
writing on your agency letterhead.
State in your request:
- Your name
- Your agency/organization name, any affiliation with a parent organization,
contact information, and the service you provide
- Reason you are requesting financial assistance and the financial structure
of your organization (i.e. where your funding comes from, why you cannot use
it to pay for accommodations)
- Brief description of service you are providing for the deaf or hard of
hearing consumer(s)
- Date, time, location, and other information related to the service being
provided
- What service you are requesting (2 interpreters for 8 hours etc.) and a
cost estimate
E-Mail or fax letter to:
Mailing address is PO Box 7851, Rm 451, Madison, WI 53707.
Requests must be
received by ODHH office a minimum of two weeks before the scheduled event
except in the case of an emergency. It is not considered an emergency if
you forgot to make your request or did not know about the service fund.
A decision will be based on the information in your letter and your
agency’s responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and other applicable laws. If more information is
need to make a decision, a contact
will be made. When a decision has been made, a
letter will be send explaining the office decision
and how you should proceed.
The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
encourages organizations to budget for reasonable accommodation requests.
Receiving Service Fund in one instance does not guarantee receiving it in
a similar instance in the future.
Interpreters scheduled must be
nationally certified or have WITA verification of I 1/T 1 or I 2/T 2.
Service Funds cannot be used for interpreters without these credentials.
Assignments lasting two hours or more will likely require two
interpreters.
Requests for Service Fund in situations of emergencies or funerals/memorial
services can be made to a Regional Coordinator in your area.
The resources in Wisconsin available are: Interpreter Directory,
interpreting agencies and real time captioning
agencies (PDF, 7 KB).
References:
For more information or ask questions about the Service Fund, contact the
Regional Coordinator in your area.
** Undue Hardship: The ADA defines an undue hardship as an
action or accommodation that is excessively costly, extensive, substantial or
disruptive, or would fundamentally alter the nature or operation of a business,
organization or entity.
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Last
Updated: August 14, 2008
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