News DTA Celebrates 32nd Anniversary of ADA with Launch of Pictorial Communication Boards

Quincy — July 26, 2022 marks the 32^nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on a disability. The law guarantees equal opportunity and protections for people with disabilities in employment, transportation, community living, and all areas of public life. The ADA has the potential to be life-changing for millions of Americans living with mobility, hearing, visual, cognitive, mental health, substance use disorders and other disabilities.

Using the ADA framework as a guidepost, DTA is committed to continuing to improve and expand equitable and inclusive access to our programs and services for all clients. This month DTA rolled out a client-facing Pictorial Communication Board in all of our local offices to support clients who are Deaf, hard of hearing, nonverbal or may have limited verbal or English proficiency. These boards include images and descriptive words in eight languages to help DTA staff determine the primary reason for a client’s visit. This may be to apply for benefits, get an EBT card, scan documents or more. Further, the board has a section on preferred methods of communication for clients who want to request an ASL interpreter, CART services, Video Relay Services, and/or communicate in a language other than English. Through cross-agency collaboration, the board was reviewed by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) and the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS).