What Are Your Rights In The Workplace?

Have you experienced or witnessed discrimination while you are on the job?  Amanda Tuite, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Access Specialist, will discuss Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  As you know Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits companies from discriminating against Deaf employees. The role of the deaf employee (or employer) when encountering barriers to communication access will be discussed, and participants will come away equipped with strategies to apply in those situations.  

The participants will be able to: 

– describe the requirements of the ADA under Title I regarding communication access for persons who are deaf, DeafBlind or hard of hearing. 

– clarify common misconceptions regarding the ADA, Title I, and how it applies to sign language interpreters 

– utilize strategies to educate consumers about their rights under the ADA  

What is Access Vine? Access Vine is a training and outreach service focusing on a wide range of topics such as self-advocacy skill-building, career exploration, deaf culture awareness, and accessibility. The purpose of Access Vine is focused on increasing job opportunities for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. We will work with stakeholders around the state of Texas to bring about our vision of a world where people who are deaf and hard of hearing are given equal opportunities in the labor market. We are unique because we focus on building up the confidence within other companies to be more culturally conscious and accepting of qualified applicants who are deaf and hard of hearing. Not only do we work with entities, but we work with people with hearing loss who are of all ages on discovering their potential through identity development, personality assessment, career assessment, and building their brand.  The Access Vine Resource Specialist Program is funded by the Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, under the Texas Health and Human Services.