FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	

CR

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1998	

(202) 616-2765

TDD (202) 514-1888


VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SETTLE ALLEGATIONS


OF VIOLATING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITES ACT


 
	WASHINGTON, D.C.      Emergency medical technicians (EMT's) with
hearing disabilities will now be able to take training courses
offered by the Virginia Department of Health, under an agreement
reached today with the Justice Department.

	The agreement resolves a complaint filed with the Justice
Department alleging that the Virginia Department of Health's Office
of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) violated the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).  It alleged that EMS failed to provide 
effective communication to EMT's with hearing impairments who were
trying to obtain training credits to get certified or re  certified
as EMT's.  

	"Qualified EMT's should have the same chance to attend
training and certification programs sponsored by the state," said
Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. 
"Through effective communication, EMT's with disabilities can
improve their skills, and advance in their careers."

	Under the agreement the state will:

		provide sign language interpreters in training programs
with program moderators;

 
		transcribe video training programs required for
certification; and,

 
		publicize the availability of interpreters and
transcripts and provide them free of charge to people
with hearing impairments.

 
	Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to
make their communication with people with hearing disabilities as
effective as communication with nondisabled people.

	This is the first agreement the Department of Justice has
reached regarding accessibility of state training programs to
people with hearing impairments.  

	Earlier this year, the Department reached agreements with
Fairfax, Virginia, and Prince Georges County, Maryland, to allow
qualified people with hearing impairments to serve as volunteer
firefighters and technicians.  

	In 1997, the Department entered a consent decree with
Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, requiring the county to
hire an individual with a hearing impairment for an EMT position,
and hire qualified individuals with hearing impairments for EMT
positions in the future.  Policies like the one required by today's
agreement will help ensure that these individuals can succeed in
their jobs.

	Those who are interested in finding out more about the ADA can
access the Department's ADA home page on the World Wide Web at
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahoml.htm or call the ADA 
information line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).

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