Co-op and Condo Boards Must Accommodate Hearing-Impaired Residents
Recently, an issue arose in a Manhattan co-op where a shareholder with "profound deafness" struggled to understand voices on the intercom. The resident questioned the legal requirements for an intercom system accommodating disabilities. Federal, state, and local laws mandate that co-op and condo boards are legally obligated to accommodate hearing-impaired residents who request intercom systems suited to their needs, such as visual interface devices. Non-compliance can lead to discrimination lawsuits for not engaging in "cooperative dialogue" with the resident and even award monetary damages to compensate for things such things as emotional distress.