U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger | U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey has reached a settlement with Advanced ENT & Allergy to address allegations of discrimination against a prospective patient who is deaf and has low vision, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The investigation revealed that the medical practice, which operates eleven offices in southern New Jersey, failed to provide necessary in-person sign language interpretation services for patients who could not effectively communicate using screen-based remote interpretation due to their vision disability.
As part of the settlement, Advanced ENT & Allergy will implement a non-discrimination policy to ensure individuals with disabilities have full and equal access to its services. The practice will also offer in-person interpretation services when required by patients with disabilities and provide mandatory ADA training for its employees. The medical practice is expected to be acquired by ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP on January 1st, which had no involvement in the conduct related to the complaint.
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in public accommodations such as those provided by Advanced ENT & Allergy. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against can file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division.
For more information about the ADA, resources are available at www.ada.gov or through the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA information line.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily B. Goldberg from the Civil Rights Division represents the government in this matter.
