Deaf and hard-of-hearing people are entitled to equal access in schools, workplaces, and public spaces — by law. Ava helps you understand your rights, request accommodations with confidence, and advocates on your behalf when barriers arise.
Whether you're facing a denial at school, a pushback at work, or a gap in access at a public event — here's how the path forward looks.
The ADA, IDEA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act lay out concrete entitlements — not suggestions. Learn exactly what accommodations you're legally entitled to in your specific context: school, employer, or public venue.
Be specific: don't just ask for "better communication." Name the accommodation — live captions, CART, an ASL interpreter, or Ava. Put it in writing, document the date, and keep a copy. Vagueness is the most common reason accommodations are denied.
Fill out the form below. Our advocacy team reviews your situation and can send the request on your behalf, provide a letter you send yourself, and give you a free trial of Ava Premium to show the solution in action.
Ready to start? Our team reviews every request and responds quickly.
Get Advocacy Support →Access rights aren't one-size-fits-all. The laws that protect you differ depending on where you are and what role you hold.
Public schools and universities must remove communication barriers for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Under IDEA, students are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment. Under ADA Title II, public universities and K-12 schools cannot deny effective communication access.
Any employer with 15 or more employees must provide reasonable accommodations allowing you to perform your job without barriers. This covers all-hands meetings, one-on-ones, trainings, and digital tools. "Reasonable" means effective for you — not just what's cheapest for them.
Restaurants, theaters, hospitals, government offices, and event organizers must provide equally effective communication access. This doesn't just mean adding a hearing loop — it means whatever is necessary for you to participate on par with hearing attendees.
Know your rights — now put them to work. Ava can contact your school or employer on your behalf.
Let Ava Advocate For Me →Deep dives from the Ava team and trusted external organizations on the laws, strategies, and tools that matter most.
Want us to put these resources into a letter for your school or employer?
Get Your Accommodation Letter →Tell us your situation. Choose how you want us to help — we can reach out directly on your behalf, or hand you a letter ready to send yourself. Either way, you'll get a free trial of Ava Premium captions.
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