The Service Fund is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS),
Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH). The fund reimburses communication access
service providers who support Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing individuals by providing
Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) or interpreting services.
Reimbursement may be approved if any of the following criteria apply:
- The entity or event is not required to provide communication access services under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). - The entity or event is not required to provide services under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act. - Paying for services would cause an undue hardship.
- Funds are available.
Common requests for Service Fund CART or interpreter reimbursements include funerals,
weddings, and HLAA meetings. If you are unsure whether a request would be approved, email
the Service Fund contact to discuss your situation.
How to Apply
- Complete the Service Fund Application (Form F-01264) at least two weeks prior to the
event, unless the request is for a funeral. - Email the completed application to steven.smart@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
- Approval or denial is generally issued within 48 hours.
- If approved, an approval letter is shared with the service provider for billing purposes.
The Service Fund pays the CART provider or interpreter directly. Reimbursement must
be submitted within 30 days.
Finding a CART Provider
To locate someone who provides CART, check out this link: Communication Access Real-Time
Translation (CART) | Wisconsin Department of Health Services This site provides a partial
listing of providers.
You may also:
● Ask HLAA colleagues for provider recommendations.
● When contacting a provider who is unavailable, ask for referrals, as they may have
professional contacts.
For more information about the Service Fund, visit: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/odhh/service-fund.htm
Email for questions: steven.smart@dhs.wisconsin.gov