Would a seminar open to the public be required to provide a sign language interpreter is requested?
I'm taking my business to a seminar next month. One of my employees is deaf and will need an interpreter for the seminar. Is there a law that states this seminar needs to provide one if requested?
The ADA requires businesses to make "reasonable accommodation" for disabled customers and employees. If this is a commercial seminar that you are paying to go to then your employee is a customer and the ADA requirement of "reasonable accommodation" will apply.
Whether it would be "reasonable" to require a seminar to provide a full-time ASL interpreter for one deaf customer is a matter of interpretation. The requirement might be met by, for example, providing his transcripts in advance of the speakers addresses.
A lot will depend on the size. It's reasonable for a seminar with 1,000 attendees to do a lot more to comply with ADA than it is for a seminar of 10 people sitting around a conference table.
Richard