TOLLAND, Conn. — Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery, or SMOS, an orthopedic medical practice located in Manchester and Tolland, has entered into a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.
According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, the matter was sparked by a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice by a person who is deaf and speaks American Sign Language. The complainant alleged that SMOS failed to provide them with a qualified interpreter for American Sign Language at medical appointments.
The U.S. Attorney said that a governmental investigation found that SMOS did not provide effective communication for a medical appointment.
As part of the new agreement, SMOS promises not to discriminate based on disability in the future and will offer people with disabilities full and equal enjoyment of its services. SMOS is additionally required to provide auxiliary aids and services such as American Sign Language interpreters so that effective communication with its patients and their companions who have disabilities can be better achieved.
According to the U.S. Attorney, SMOS has also agreed to provide reasonable modifications to policies and procedures for people with disabilities consistent with the ADA. The U.S. Attorney said that SMOS worked cooperatively with her office to improve their ADA compliance without litigation.
The settlement agreement is effective for three years, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor compliance over that period.
Any individual who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any public place or entity in Connecticut fails to be accessible to people with disabilities can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700 and ask for the Civil Rights Intake Specialist.
More information can be found here or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at 800-514-0301 and 800-514-0383. Further information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces can be found here, according to the U.S. Attorney.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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