§ 5-71-16 - Relationship to other civil rights laws.
SECTION 5-71-16
§ 5-71-16 Relationship to other civilrights laws. – (a) This chapter does not limit or qualify the rights of employees withdisabilities nor consumers, including, but not limited to, interpreterservices, or the duties of providers to provide accommodations, auxiliary aids,or services, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12201, et seq., 29 U.S.C. § 794,article 1, § 2 of the Rhode Island constitution; chapter 87 of title 42,chapter 24 of title 11, chapter 5 of title 28, § 42-46-13; § 8-5-8,§ 9-9-1.2 or other applicable federal or state law.
(b) The obligations of these cited federal or state civilrights laws include, but are not limited to:
(1) A state and local governmental agency's takingappropriate steps to ensure that communications with applicants, participants,employees, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective ascommunications with others. State and local governmental agencies shall furnishappropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individualwith a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefitsof a service, program or activity conducted by a state or local governmentalagency. In determining what type of auxiliary aid or service is necessary, astate or local governmental agency shall give primary consideration to therequests of the individual;
(2) A public accommodation taking those steps that may benecessary to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, deniedservices, segregated or treated differently than other individuals because ofthe absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless the public accommodationscan demonstrate that taking those steps would fundamentally alter the nature ofthe goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodationsbeing offered or would result in an undue burden, i.e., significant difficultyor expense. A public accommodation shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids andservices where necessary to ensure effective communication with individualswith disabilities; and
(3) An employer and/or employment agency making reasonableaccommodations, including the provision of interpreters for the deaf, for theiremployees with disabilities where necessary to ensure effective communicationwith individuals with disabilities.