Summary
US guidance explains effective communication under ADA Titles II and III, including assistive listening and museum tours.
Key findings
- Says covered state and local governments, businesses and nonprofit organisations serving the public must provide auxiliary aids and services when needed for effective communication.
- Lists assistive listening systems and devices among the available aids and services, and uses a museum or historic-house tour as an example where a printed script of a stock speech may be provided.
- The appropriate aid depends on the nature, length, complexity and context of the communication and the person’s usual communication method.
- Title II entities must give primary consideration to the person’s requested aid, subject to the stated exceptions; Title III entities are encouraged to consult the person.
- Explains undue-burden and fundamental-alteration limits and the obligation to provide another effective aid, if possible, when a particular aid would impose an undue burden. Recommends continuing staff training.
- The page gives an original issue date of 1 January 2014 and an update date of 28 February 2020; this record uses the update date.
Limits
Informal explanatory guidance, not a new binding rule or a finding about a specific attraction. It does not specify a single system for every tour; applicability and exceptions depend on the covered entity and circumstances.
Read the original
www.ada.gov/resources/effective-communication
Cited in
Cite this source
US Department of Justice. ADA Requirements: Effective Communication. US Department of Justice (ADA.gov). 28 February 2020. https://www.ada.gov/resources/effective-communication/ (accessed 13 October 2026).
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