Notice Informing Individuals about Nondiscrimination and Accessibility Requirements

Arteries & Veins complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Arteries & Veins does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Arteries & Veins:

• Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
  • Qualified sign language interpreters
  • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
• Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
  • Qualified interpreters
  • Information written in other languages
• If you need these services, contact Clinical Coordinator on duty.

If you believe that Arteries & Veins has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with:

Marisa Smith, Regional Manager
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 1169
Dallas, TX 75202

Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019
Fax: (202) 619-3818
TDD: (800) 537-7697

Email: ocrmail@ hhs.gov

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201

1-800-368-1 019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

Effective Communication for Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Effective communication with a qualified person who is deaf or hard of hearing is communication that allows the person an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity.

What laws apply to effective communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) forbids public and private entities that receive financial assistance from any federal department or agency ("covered entities") from excluding qualified individuals with disabilities or denying them an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services.

ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) protects individuals with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations (most private offices and businesses), transportation, and telecommunications.

Who is protected under these laws?

These laws protect qualified individuals with disabilities:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (such as hearing, speaking, sleeping, thinking, learning, working or the operation of a major bodily function)
• Has a record of such an impairment
• Is regarded as having such an impairment

To receive services, education, or training, qualified individuals with disabilities must, with or without reasonable modifications, meet the essential eligibility requirements for the specific service, program, or activity.

What are auxiliary aids and services?

Auxiliary aids and services may be:

• qualified interpreters
• note takers
• written materials
• text telephones (TTYs)
• videotext displays, or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• a "Aurally delivered information" means information that is delivered through sound, including through speech, intercoms, telephones, recorded messages, loudspeakers, alarms, etc.

What should I do if I need auxiliary aid or service?

As soon as possible:

• Let the entity know that you are deaf or hard of hearing
• Ask for the auxiliary aid or service you think you need (interpreter, notepaper, etc.)

Who decides on the aid or service?

The covered entity is responsible for ensuring that effective communication happens. Generally, the entity should consult with you and give primary consideration to fulfilling your request. They may use a substitute if the alternative also provides effective communication.

If an auxiliary aid or service is needed, the entity must provide it free of cost.

What if I think the communication is not effective?

You can tell the service provider if you think the communication is not, or will not be, effective. You should tell the provider why you think it is not effective.

Clinic Coordinator should be notified immediately if communication is not effective; he/she will provide other alternatives.