Who decides what type of auxiliary aid should be provided?
Public accommodations should consult with individuals with disabilities wherever possible to determine what type of auxiliary aid is needed. In many cases, more than one type of auxiliary aid or service may make effective communication possible. While consultation is strongly encouraged, the ultimate decision as to what measures to take to ensure effective communication rests in the hands of the public accommodation. But the method chosen should result in effective communication. Example: A patient who is deaf brings his own sign language interpreter for an office visit without prior consultation and bills the physician for the cost of the interpreter. In this case, the physician is not obligated to pay for the interpreter. The physician must be given an opportunity to consult with the patient and make an independent assessment of what type of auxiliary aid, if any, is necessary to ensure effective communication. If the patient believes that the physician’s decision will not lead to ef
