Accommodating Employees: Employer Agrees To Settle Suit By Hearing-Impaired Employee

A hearing-impaired worker in Los Angeles who requested a sign language interpreter for meetings–and instead was allegedly told by her supervisors to read lips and try harder–will receive $100,000 to settle her claim that her employer failed to accommodate her under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In a confidential settlement, the government employer also agreed to provide a full-time interpreter for staff meetings, conduct awareness and sensitivity training for all personnel, and appoint an ombudsman to help employees bring ADA issues to the attention of senior management.