Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ninth District, IL
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SCHAKOWSKY APPLAUDS ACTION TO FORCE INS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL DISABILITY LAWS
CHICAGO, IL – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today applauded action by disability and immigrant rights advocates on behalf of customers with disabilities to force the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Schakowsky attended a news conference where the Immigrants with Disabilities Rights Project (IDRP) announced that the organization has filed an administrative complaint on behalf of immigrants who are deaf or hard of hearing and who have been discriminated against by the Chicago office of the INS.   IDRP is a collaboration between Access Living, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and other organizations.

"Any government agency, whether it is the INS or the IRS, is obligated by law to meet the needs of people with disabilities.  All people have the right to have full access to government services.  That right is non-negotiable," Schakowsky said.

"I applaud today's action.  It puts the Chicago INS on notice that the needs of immigrants with disabilities must be met," Schakowsky added. 

Earlier this year, at Schakowsky's request, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held a field hearing in Chicago to examine problems at the Chicago INS.  During her testimony before the subcommittee, Schakowsky, among other issues, raised concerns about the failure of the INS office in Chicago to comply with federal disability laws. 

Schakowsky had also arranged a meeting for immigrant and disability rights advocates with Chicago INS officials in early October.  Many of the issues listed in the complaint were discussed in detail and acknowledged by INS officials during the meeting.

The complaint alleges that the INS has routinely discriminated against immigrants with disabilities, especially immigrants who are hard of hearing or deaf.  The complaint describes discriminatory practices at the INS such as failure to provide sign language interpreters; failure to make announcement or information that is audible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing; failure to provide telecommunications devises for the deaf (TDD); failure to notify immigrants about their rights to request specific accommodations; and failure to install visual alarm systems.

In the complaint, the INS is called upon to make changes, which include hiring of an outside consultant to conduct a thorough self-evaluation of the INS facility, increasing the number of sign language interpreters, and ensuring that deaf and hard of hearing immigrants have access to all announcements.  In addition, the INS must provide working TDDs, install visual alarms, and train staff to accommodate people with disabilities. 

 
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