Administrative Hearings Office and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Statement

In 1990, the Federal Government enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is the goal of AHO to ensure that the citizens of the State of New Mexico in need of a reasonable accommodation are provided full access to AHO's services and hearings in as timely a fashion as is reasonably and fiscally possible. AHO believes the ability to accommodate disabled persons is essential to good customer service and an important part in ensuring a fair hearing process.

Effective Communication for Hearing Participants

AHO will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in AHO hearings and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in alternative formats such as Braille or large print, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, intellectual or vision disabilities.

Request for Reasonable Accommodation or Modifications to Policies and Procedures:

AHO will make all reasonable accommodations and all permitted modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in AHO's hearings and services. For example, AHO has arranged for ASL sign language interpreters, speech language pathologists, electronic communication device aids, for hearing participants. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a hearing, should complete and submit the “Request for Reasonable Accommodation” form or contact the AHO ADA Coordinator, the Chief Hearing Officer, at 505-827-0358 or scheduling.unit@aho.nm.gov.

Persons with hearing and speech impairments can contact AHO by using the New Mexico Relay Service, a toll-free telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD). Call 877-287-0608 or visit http://www.nmrelaynetwork.org/. For more information about accessibility, please visit http://www.newmexico.gov/Accessibility.aspx.