As the nation marks 36 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, members of Rockland County's deafness task force and community are calling attention to challenges they say they continue to face when accessing healthcare, particularly when video remote interpreters are used instead of in-person services.

People and advocates in the deaf community say communication barriers remain a concern in medical settings, despite requests for accommodations.

Robert Russell, of New City, said he does not always have access to an in-person American Sign Language interpreter during healthcare visits.

Russell, who is deaf, spoke with News 12 along with an in-person ASL interpreter.

"The social worker called the doctor's office and said I needed an interpreter and they ignored it. They said, 'Why did they ignore it?'" says Russell.

Many healthcare facilities across the tri-state area use video remote interpreters (VRI), a practice that has drawn criticism from members of the Rockland Deafness Task Force.

"I can't use VRI. It makes me feel like I'm not included. It makes me a bit angry," Russell said.

Russell said a recent experience at a local hospital, where an in-person interpreter was provided, showed the benefits of that accommodation.

"I hope the change continues and they make improvements. It's better for the deaf community," he says.

Sean Gerlis, of West Nyack, is deaf and advocates for the community. He says healthcare providers should take a more individualized approach to accommodations.

"So I think what really needs to be improved first and foremost is for everyone to ask the patient what accommodations work best for them," Gerlis said.

Gerlis recalled one experience in an emergency room, where he said communication was difficult while using a video remote interpreter.

"They hand me a VRI interpreter. And everyone is overlapping and talking over each other. And the interpreter has no idea who is talking. I'm in pain at times," he said.

To address ongoing concerns, Gerlis said New York State should establish a commission for the deaf.

The concerns were shared as advocates mark the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and continue to push for improvements in accessibility and communication within healthcare settings.

A spokesperson for WMCHealth Network tells News 12, "Our Patient Advocacy and Patient Experience teams are aware of concerns regarding these services, had meetings with various stakeholders, and changed our procedure across all hospitals accordingly for individuals to be able to request in-person translation services. We are always evaluating the services we provide to ensure they are meeting the needs of our patients, families, and the communities we serve.”

The statement continued, "A number of hospitals across WMCHealth’s Western Region, including Good Samaritan Hospital, work with several vendors that can provide live, in-person American Sign Language interpretation upon a patient’s and family’s request. In some instances, we also provide Video Remote Interpreting when ASL services are needed immediately before an in-person interpreter can arrive onsite."

A spokesperson for Montefiore Nyack Hospital tells News 12, "We are also proud to participate in the Rockland Deafness Task Force to stay connected to the needs of this community as we recognize the importance of effective communication and remain committed to providing accessible, patient-centered care that respects each patient’s communication needs and preferences."

The spokesperson added that Montefiore Nyack Hospital has on-site, in-person interpreters while using VRI for emergencies.

State Sen. Bill Weber, whose district covers most of Rockland, has facilitated meetings between the task force and local hospitals.