Resource: White Paper: Effective Communication with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, and Low Vision Incarcerated People

This version of the white paper is screen readable. A large print (but not screen readable) version of the white paper is available here.

This white paper draws lessons from cases brought by persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or low vision in jails and prisons across the country seeking to enforce federal disability antidiscrimination law. Informed by court filings, judicial opinions, settlement agreements, and related resources, as well as interviews and workshops with advocates and experts, this paper proposes best practices for compliance with antidiscrimination law in the custody and treatment of prisoners with communication disability. The paper describes the relevant challenges and governing law, and offers a detailed set of policy recommendations intended as a template for jails and prisons.

The white paper project and related resources, including an executive summary in regular and large print and links to related cases, are here.

A version of this white paper has been published here: Tessa Bialek & Margo Schlanger, Effective Communication with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Blind, and Low Vision Incarcerated People, 26 J. Gender, Race & Just. 133 (2023).