Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures

A. For Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

(i) For persons who are deaf/hard of hearing and who use sign language as their primary means of communication, the facility Administrator is responsible for providing effective interpretation or arranging for a qualified interpreter when needed.

In the event that an interpreter is needed, the facility Administrator is responsible for:

(a) Maintaining a list of qualified interpreters on staff showing their names, phone numbers, qualifications and hours of availability;

(b) Contacting the appropriate interpreter on staff to interpret, if one is available and qualified to interpret.

Clear Message Interpreting Service has agreed to provide interpreter services should a qualified interpreter not be available on staff. The agency’s/agencies’ telephone number(s) is/are 910 763 9268 and are available 24/7.

Communicating by Telephone with Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing:

The Facility utilizes relay services for external telephone with TTY users. We accept and make calls through a relay service. The state relay service number is 800 735 2962.

(ii) For the following auxiliary aids and services, staff will contact the facility Administrator who is responsible to provide the aids and services in a timely manner:

Note-takers; computer-aided transcription services; telephone handset amplifiers; written copies of oral announcements; assistive listening devices; assistive listening systems; telephones compatible with hearing aids; closed caption decoders; open and closed captioning; telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDDs); videotext displays; or other effective methods that help make aurally delivered materials available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

(iii) Some persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may prefer or request to use a family member or friend as an interpreter. However, family members or friends of the person will not be used as interpreters unless specifically requested by that individual and after an offer of an interpreter at no charge to the person has been made by the facility. Such an offer and the response will be documented in the person’s file. If the person chooses to use a family member or friend as an interpreter, issues of competency of interpretation, confidentiality, privacy and conflict of interest will be considered. If the family member or friend is not competent or appropriate for any of these reasons, competent interpreter services will be provided.

NOTE: Children and other residents will not be used to interpret, in order to ensure confidentiality of information and accurate communication.

B. For Persons Who are Blind or Who Have Low Vision

(i) Staff will communicate information contained in written materials concerning treatment, benefits, services, waivers of rights, and consent to treatment forms by reading out loud and explaining these forms to persons who are blind or who have low vision.

The following types of large print, taped, Braille, and electronically formatted materials are available:

Employment Application, Employment Information, Employee Handbook, Payroll Information, Work Comp information, all other employment paperwork that requires their understanding, signature or consent. Admissions agreement, Resident/Family handbook, resident grievance procedure, resident concern forms, Medicare/Medicaid eligibility information, Safety, HIPPA, OSHA, information that may be needed to maintain a safe environment. Resource information, such as, ombudsman, state agencies, federal agencies, Menu’s, Reading Material, Activity Material, Social Service Material, any other materials that the resident, family or employee requests that the facility deems important for the overall understanding of the operation of the facility, Any other documentation that requires a resident’s/family member’s understanding, signature or consent.

These materials may be obtained by contacting the facility Administrator.

(ii) For the following auxiliary aids and services, staff will contact the facility Administrator, who is responsible to provide the aids and services in a timely manner:

Qualified readers; reformatting into large print; taping or recording of print materials not available in alternate format; or other effective methods that help make visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or who have low vision. In addition, staff are available to assist persons who are blind or who have low vision in filling out forms and in otherwise providing information in a written format.

C. For Persons with Speech Impairments

To ensure effective communication with persons with speech impairments, staff will contact the facility Administrator, who is responsible to provide the aids and services in a timely manner:

Writing materials; typewriters; TDDs; computers; flashcards; alphabet boards; communication boards;) and other communication aids.

D. For Persons with Manual Impairments

Staff will assist those who have difficulty in manipulating print materials by holding the materials and turning pages as needed, or by providing one or more of the following:

Note-takers; computer-aided transcription services; speaker phones; or other effective methods that help to ensure effective communication by individuals with manual impairments. For these and other auxiliary aids and services, staff will contact the facility Administrator who is responsible to provide the aids and services in a timely manner.