Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) DISABILITY RESOURCE GUIDE June, 2018 Last Update June, 2018 Table of Contents Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................... 2 DTA’s Mission ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of the DTA Disability Resource Guide ............................................................................................ 5 ADA Definition of Disability ......................................................................................................................... 6 General Communication and Disability Etiquette .......................................................................................... 6 Hidden Disabilities ....................................................................................................................... 7 Learning Disabilities ..................................................................................................................... 7 Understanding Mental Illness ..................................................................................................... 8 Some Facts about Mental Illness ................................................................................................. 9 Positive Communication Suggestions: ........................................................................................ 9 Avoid: .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Department of Mental Health (DMH) Contact Information ................................................. 10 Different types of hearing loss and preferences for communication ..................................... 11 Communication Tips .................................................................................................................................... 13 Before the conversation starts: .................................................................................................. 13 During the conversation: ........................................................................................................... 14 As the conversation ends: .......................................................................................................... 14 Communication Access and Assistive Technology Glossary ...................................................................... 15 American Sign Language (ASL) ................................................................................................ 15 ASL Interpreters ........................................................................................................................ 15 Communication Access Realtime Translation Service (CART) ............................................ 15 Assistive Listening Device (ALD) / Assistive Listening System (ALS) .................................. 15 Captioned Telephone (CapTel) ................................................................................................. 16 CUED Speech .............................................................................................................................. 16 Hearing Carry Over (HCO) ...................................................................................................... 16 Speech to Speech (STS) .............................................................................................................. 16 Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) ................................................................................. 16 Teletypewriter (TTY) ................................................................................................................. 16 Video Relay Service (VRS) ........................................................................................................ 16 Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) ............................................................................................. 17 Voice Carry Over (VCO) ........................................................................................................... 17 Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) .............................................................................................. 17 Oral Interpreter/transliterator ................................................................................................. 17 Massachusetts Telecommunications Relay Service (MassRelay) ................................................................ 18 MassRelay Contact Information ............................................................................................... 18 To place a call using MassRelay ................................................................................................ 18 Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) .......................... 19 MCDHH - Executive Office ....................................................................................................... 19 2 Last Update June, 2018 Blind and Low Vision .................................................................................................................................. 20 Understanding Legally Blind and Low Vision Individuals Definition of Legal Blindness in Massachusetts ............................................................................................................................. 20 Definition of Low Vision ............................................................................................................ 20 Communication Tips .................................................................................................................. 21 Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) ........................................................................................ 22 MCB Boston Contact Information ........................................................................................... 22 Regional Offices .......................................................................................................................... 22 Developmental Disabilities Understanding Developmental Disorders ........................................................ 24 Cerebral Palsy ............................................................................................................................. 24 Down Syndrome .......................................................................................................................... 24 Spina Bifida ................................................................................................................................. 24 Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) ......................................................................................... 24 Communication Tips .................................................................................................................. 25 Department of Developmental Services (DDS) ........................................................................ 25 Mobility Impairments Different Types of Mobility Impairments ................................................................ 26 Helpful Tips ................................................................................................................................. 26 Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)...................................................................................... 27 What MRC Does ......................................................................................................................... 27 Key Resources ............................................................................................................................. 27 The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Contact Information .................................. 27 Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) ................................................................................................. 28 MOD Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 28 Emergency Planning .................................................................................................................................... 29 Reporting Abuse and Neglect of Individuals with Disabilities .................................................................... 29 Disabled Persons Protection Hotline: 800-426-9009 ............................................................... 29 Transitional Assistance Office (TAO) Accommodation Teams and the ADA Process ............................... 30 Pending Accommodation Requests ........................................................................................... 30 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Background and Overview ................................................... 32 Titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act ........................................................................... 32 1. Employment (42 U.S.C.A. chapter 126, subchapter I; §12112 et. seq.) ............................. 32 State and Local Government (42 U.S.C.A. chapter 126, subchapter II; ...................................... 32 2. Public Accommodations (42 U.S.C.A. chapter 126, subchapter III; .................................. 33 3. Telecommunications (Title IV of P.L. 101-336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 336 which enacted 47 U.S.C.A. §225.) ......................................................................................................................