Duty to Accommodate, Legal Capacity and People with Communication Disabilities

• Accommodations are a legal obligation – they are not voluntary.
• Accommodations for people with communication disabilities are no less valid or important to achieving equality than those that are more well known – such as ramps for people who have mobility disabilities and sign language for people who are Deaf.

Role of Accommodations:

• Assist a person to demonstrate that they meet the test of capacity
• Assist a person in the decision-making process

Examples:

• Support person – assist with communication and/or decision-making
• Additional time for communication
• Communication aids e.g. picture boards; speech output devices