Pertinent ADA Section for Title II entities (state and local governments) and Title III entities (business and nonprofit organizations that serve the public).

ADA Title II and Title III Entities Requirements

FCC Rules Regarding IP-Delivered Video Programming

FCC Guidelines for Captioning Internet Video Programming

Title II,III  (US Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division)

“The ADA requires that title II entities (State and local governments) and title III entities (businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities. The goal is to ensure that communication with people with these disabilities is equally effective as communication with people without disabilities….

• Covered entities must provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities….

The ADA uses the term “auxiliary aids and services” (“aids and services”) to refer to the ways to communicate with people who have communication disabilities….

• For people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or are deaf-blind, this includes providing a qualified notetaker; a qualified sign language interpreter, oral interpreter, cued-speech interpreter, or tactile interpreter; real-time captioning; written materials; or a printed script of a stock speech (such as given on a museum or historic house tour). A “qualified” interpreter means someone who is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively (i.e., understanding what the person with the disability is saying) and expressively (i.e., having the skill needed to convey information back to that person) using any necessary specialized vocabulary….”

The National Association of the Deaf provides Resources, Guidelines, and further Explanation.

Article – 9 Access (United Nations: Division for Social Policy and Development Disability)

1. To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas….

2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures:

e) To provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public;…

The World Federation of the Deaf provides further guidelines and resources for the international deaf community.