The Americans with disabilities protection act

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Pennsylvania Department of transportation has provided access to all Driver License Centers and Photo Centers for people with disabilities. In addition, additional services are available for people with hearing or reading disabilities who want to take a theory or practice driving test.

Interpreters for the hearing impaired

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s driver licensing office provides interpreter services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and communicate in sign language. This service is available for persons wishing to take a theory or practice driving test, or a re-test for drivers with impaired scores. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at least two (2) weeks prior to your desired test date, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will make every effort to provide you with a sign language interpreter.

Actions necessary for you to be provided with an interpreter:

1. Call 717-412-5300 to make an appointment or an exam. If you use a teletype service for the hearing impaired, call 711. Indicate your desired Driver’s License Center and at least 3 dates that are convenient for you. You may also use the Pennsylvania Dial-up Messaging System, which provides telephone communication between 2 persons, one of whom is using a teletype, to make an appointment for the test. In this system, the operator acts as an intermediary between the two parties, one of whom can hear and one of whom cannot. If you are using a teletype, call the Dial-up System at 1-800-654.
   1-800-654-5984. If you can talk on the phone, call 1-800-654-5988. Once an interpreter is found, you will receive a call to confirm your exam date.
2. When signing up for the exam, indicate your preferred sign language. Options are:

• American Sign Language (ASL).
• Hawaiian Sign Language (PSE)
• Simplified Sign Language (SEE)
• Sign language interpreter (able to read lips)

Alternative way to pass the exam

There are times when people taking a theory exam may have difficulty reading, may not be able to read in some cases, or may be more comfortable with a text being read out to them. The service of reading out questions for the test is available at all Driver’s License Centers throughout the commonwealth of states.