DCC showcases AT gadgets for hotels

Some Saipan hotels are slowly heading toward full compliance to the Americans with Disabilities Act on Public Accommodations by gearing up with several assistive technology devices which would provide individuals with disabilities more comfort and access to their hotel facilities.

The Aqua Resort Club yesterday hosted an AT demonstration conducted by AT specialist Dr. Celia Lamkin of the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council on the ADA compliance kit designed for the deaf and the hard of hearing.

ARC management and staff witnessed a thorough presentation on the Telecommunication Device for the Deaf or the Teletypewriter which is targeted to cater to guests with hearing impairments.
The ADA compliance kit includes a bed vibrator which serves as an alarm clock for the deaf, a phone amplifier for the hard of hearing, and a visual fire alarm.

ARC front office manager Hiroki Sugie has disclosed plans to acquire several sets of AT devices for the hotel.

“During the last three years, we started readying for ADA compliance and it’s a continuous process. We’re scheduling the installation of these technologies soon. We want to accommodate our guests who come here with certain disabilities,” said Mr. Sugie.

Under federal laws, public places such as hotels are required to offer auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing or vision impairments.

“Guests who would come to a hotel asking for this service and is denied has the prerogative to press charges against that establishment,” Dr. Lamkin warned.

Auxiliary aids and services, according to the act, may include qualified interpreters, assistive listening devices, notetakers, and written materials for individuals with hearing impairments; and qualified readers, taped texts, and brailled or large print materials for individuals with vision impairments.

One of the GDDC Assistive Technology Project’s tasks is to generate community awareness on the ADA and assistive technology gadgets available in the market.

“This is the first time we are doing this kind of awareness and outreach to hotels. Soon we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ADA and this is a good time to do this kinds of presentation,” said Dr. Lamkin.

Next week, the AT Project team is scheduled to conduct demonstrations at Hotel Nikko on the ADA compliance kit.
The law on Americans with disabilities classifies public accommodations as private entities that own, operate, lease, or lease to, a place of public accommodation.

Places of public accommodation include a wide range of entities such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers, the law states.

Private clubs and religious organizations are exempt from the ADA’s title III requirements for public accommodations.

However, the ADA does not require the provision of any auxiliary aid that would result in an undue burden or in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the goods or services provided by a public accommodation.

But the public accommodation is not relieved from the duty to furnish an alternative auxiliary aid, if available that would not result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden. (MM)