These advocacy letters can help you advocate for your rights. These letters are not a promise of legal representation and using them does not mean that the NAD represents you. We encourage you to download advocacy tips when requesting ASL interpreters (or other accommodations).
Education
Courses and Examinations
You may want to print and share this letter with places that offer courses and examinations.
Guided Tours
You may want to print and share this letter with places that offer guided tours.
Public and Charter Schools
This letter is for deaf or hard of hearing students or parents/guardians of a student attending a public or charter school. You may want to print and share this letter with your public or charter school.
Families Seeking Accessible K-12 Remote Education During COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, some schools may have closed their classrooms and switched to teaching students remotely. It is important that deaf and hard of hearing students have full access to their classes and education, even if it is remotely provided. It is also important for deaf and hard of hearing parents or families to have equal access to information from schools. This advocacy letter is to help families advocate for what they need during these times when their deaf or hard of hearing child receives remote K-12 education.
Justice and Law Enforcement
Courts
You may want to print and share this letter with state, county, municipal, administrative, and other courts. [ASL Translation available]
Attorneys or Lawyers
You may want to print and share this letter with your lawyers or attorneys. You may have your lawyers or attorneys contact the NAD for more information about the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people.
Police
You may want to print and share this letter with your local police department.
Parole and Probation Offices
You may wish to print and share this letter with your parole or probation office.
Events and Entertainment
Festivals and Concerts
You may want to print and share this letter with hosts of events such as festivals and concerts.
Theaters and Concert Halls
You may want to print and share this letter with theaters, concert halls, or other places of entertainment.
Conferences, Conventions, Workshops
You may want to print and share this letter with hosts of conferences, conventions, and workshops.
Cruise Ships
You may want to print and share this letter with a passenger vessel such as a cruise ship.
Museums, Libraries, and Galleries
You may want to print and share this letter with museums, libraries, galleries, and other places of public display or collection.
Healthcare
COVID-19: Medical Communication Access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
You may want to use these guidelines when faced with a medical situation during COVID-19.
COVID-19: Video-Based Telehealth Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients
You may want to use these guidelines when you have a Telehealth appointment with your doctor during COVID-19.
Long-Term Care Facilities
You may want to print and share this letter with long-term care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and other similar facilities.
Healthcare Providers
You may want to print and share this letter with your healthcare providers, including clinics, doctor’s offices, and hospitals.
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) in Healthcare Settings
You may want to print and share this letter about best practices in the use of VRI with your healthcare providers, including clinics, doctor’s offices, and hospitals. [ASL Translation available]
Businesses
Remote Employment During COVID-19
By law, your boss must still accommodate you even if you work from home. You may want to use these guidelines when working remotely during COVID-19.
Real Estate Professionals and Entities
You may want to print and share this letter with your real estate agents, brokers, realtors, new home sales companies, mortgage lenders, settlement companies, and all other real estate professionals and entities.
Televisions in Public Places
You may want to print and share this letter with businesses such as bars, restaurants, gyms, hotels, and sports venues to request that they turn on the closed captioning on any television that is in use during regular hours in any public area.
Relay Services
Businesses and other Places of Public Accommodation: Accepting calls placed through Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)
You may want to print and share this letter with a business or other place of public accommodation to help them understand their responsibility to accept your relay calls.
Message to Businesses: Don’t Hang Up!
Banks and Lending Institutions: Accepting calls placed through Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)
You may want to print and share this letter with your bank or lending institution to help them understand their responsibility to accept your relay calls. [ASL Video]