§ 2.1.i NA2022: Difference between revisions

   <li>Installation heads are authorized to pay for certified interpreters. Every effort will be made to provide certified interpreters when deemed necessary by an application of the principles set forth herein. Costs for sign language interpreting services are covered by a centralized budget at Headquarters.</li>

   <li>In some states, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides interpreters at no charge.</li>

   <li>Volunteer interpreters or individuals skilled in signing may be obtained from the work force or from the community. A skilled interpreter is anyone who can provide effective interpretation in the sign language used by the signing employee.</li>

   <li>In some situations, such as day-to-day instructions and routine communications, written communications may be appropriate based on the employee’s ability to comprehend written communications.</li>

   <li>All Postal Service employees who supervise employees who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as , training specialists, EAP, and EEO counselors may be trained in sign language and must complete Postal Service approved training on the following subjects:

  <ul style="list-style-type:circle;">

    <li>Effective communications with employees who are deaf and hard of hearing,</li>

    <li>Providing qualified sign language interpreters.</li>

    <li>Use of VRI and VRS.</li>

   <li>Deaf and hard of hearing applicants <b>will</b> be scheduled for a specific examination time when an interpreter will be available. Management will provide the following assistance for deaf and hard of hearing employees with a disability under the Act.</li>

  <li>State or Federal Relay services or other postal approved technology such as Video Relay Services (VRS) or VRI – if available and authorized or new and evolving technologies that are available, authorized and approved, may provide away for a deaf or hard of hearing employee to conduct postal business by phone or video with other employees and customers.</li>

  <li>When possible, interpretating services as described in (a) through (f) above should be scheduled as far in advance as possible./li>

<li>In the event of an emergency situation, the Postal Service will strive to communicate the nature of the emergency as soon as possible.</li>

Management will provide the following assistance for deaf and hard of hearing employees with a disability under the Act.

  <li>All films, videos or videotapes designed for the training or instruction of regular work force employees developed on or after October 1, 1987, shall be opened or closed captioned. To the extent practicable, existing films or videotapes developed nationally that will continue to be used by the deaf and hard of hearing with some frequency, will be opened or closed captioned.</li>

    <li>Special communications devices for the deaf and hard of hearing will be installed in all postal installations employing deaf and hard of hearing employees pursuant to the requirements contained in the Management Instruction regarding Providing Communication Accommodations to Employees and Applicants Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Special communication devices or telephone volume control devices will be installed for hard of hearing employees whenever a hard of hearing employee needs a reasonable accommodation in order to communicate by phone. These devices will be available to deaf and hard of hearing employees for official business and in the case of personal emergencies. As appropriate, Management will provide training to staff on the use of these special telecommunication devices.</li>

    <li>A visual alarm will be installed on all moving powered industrial equipment powered by electric motor or internal combustion engine in all postal installations employing deaf employees or in any installation where such a reasonable accommodation is necessary for a hard of hearing employee.</li>

    <li>Visual fire alarms will be installed in all new postal installations (installations for which the U.S. Postal Service, as of the effective date of this agreement, has not awarded a contract for the design of the building) where the Postal Service installs audible fire alarms. The parties will discuss and seek to agree at the local level about the installation in such other facilities as may be appropriate.</li>

    <li>The Postal Service will ensure that all Postal Service facilities nationwide maintain an Emergency Action Plan. The plan will address the requirements for an employee alarm system that:

  <ul style="list-style-type:circle;">

    <li>Complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations; and</li>

    <li>Provides adequate notice to employees so they can take the appropriate actions necessary to escape the workplace safely.</li>

Discussion of problem areas with regard to the use of certified sign interpreters, enhancement of job opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing, including recruitment and hiring efforts, type of special communications devices or volume control devices to be installed, installation of visual alarms or other systems such as tactile devices at other than new postal installations, and the availability of new technologies which may help deaf and hard of hearing employees perform a variety of tasks, are appropriate matters for considerations at Joint Labor-Management meetings. Discussion of such matters at Labor-Management meetings is not a prerequisite to the filing or processing of a grievance.