Section 140.19. Departmental assistance for persons with disabilities and hearing impairments.

 

(1)  The department may, at its own expense, provide a person to assist a person with a hearing impairment in communicating at a hearing, if the person with a hearing impairment notifies the department within a reasonable time prior to the date of the hearing and the department determines that the impairment is of a type which may hinder or prevent the person from communicating.

(2)  If the person with a hearing impairment makes arrangements on his or her own behalf to have a person assist him or her in communicating, the department may reimburse such person for fees and travel expenses at the rate specified for interpreters under s. DWD 140.20 , if the department determines that such person is necessary to assist the person with the hearing impairment in communicating.

(3)  The department shall attempt to schedule hearings in buildings which have ease of access for any person with a temporary or permanent incapacity or disability. The administrative law judge may reschedule any hearing in which such a person who is a party or a necessary witness to the hearing does not have ease of access into the building in which the hearing is scheduled.

Cr. Register, November, 1985, No. 359 , eff. 12-1-85, r. (1) (intro.), renum. (1) (a) and (b) to 100.02 (30) and (17), renum. (2), (3) and (4) to (1), (2) and (3), Register, September, 1995, No. 477 , eff. 10-1-95 ; am. Register, June, 1997, No. 498 , eff. 7-1-97; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 2000, No. 537 .