[nfbmi-talk] reasonable accessible accomodations

[Christine Boone]

Christy,
I would say that the apartment complex does owe you a duty of reasonable care.  In other words, they should take reasonable steps to be sure that their features are all accessible to you.  As for fire alarms, the ADA requires that they have alarms that include strobe lights that flash really brightly.  If these are not bright enough to see, then there are a couple of things that you might do:  purchasing a vibrating pillow is an option, and there is also a kind of watch that you wear on your wrist whenever you are in the building.  This is connected to the general alarm system in the building, so it vibrates whenever an alarm sounds.  It can also be tied into your telephone, door bell and etc.  

A good hearing aid store might have it.  The Land Lord's alarm system would need to be made compatible with this watch, but if they did that, then they would be ready for any other deaf or hard of hearing residents who moved in.  



I hope this helps a little.  

Christine
On Apr 15, 2011, at 8:51 AM, Marcus Simmons wrote:

> Welcome to the club, I am also deaf/blind.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <christywitte at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 10:35 PM
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] reasonable accessible accomodations
> 
> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I live in an apartment building where nothing is accessible. It is true that I chose to live here but there was information I didn't have. My main problem is that the smoke detectors are very quiet and I am hard of hearing as well as blind. The apartment complex says that a "reasonable accommodation" is spending $40 but the bedshakers, vibators or louder alarms are much more costly. I would appreciate any input. Feel free to email me on this matter.
>> Christy
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