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. Because federal law strictly protects your rights, 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 — Ava live captions, an ASL interpreter, conversation summaries. Put it in writing, document the date, and keep a copy. Vagueness is the most common reason accommodations are denied.
And it's easy. Fill out the simple form below today. Our advocacy team reviews your situation carefully and can send the request on your behalf, or provide a letter you send yourself. And we'll give you a free trial of Ava Pro to show the solution in action so you get equal communication access faster.
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 and provide comprehensive accessibility accommodations 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. And employers must consider an applicant's or employee's preferred communication method.
Restaurants, theaters, hospitals, government offices, and event organizers must provide equally effective communication access to ensure complete inclusion across all public settings without exception. This is no longer about bare-minimum support — it means making whatever adjustments are necessary so you can participate fully alongside hearing attendees.
Deep dives from the Ava team and trusted external organizations on the laws, strategies, and tools that matter most.
Choose the best way we can help you — 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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