Health care providers need to provide reasonable assistive services and auxiliary aids to patients with disabilities. Blindness and deafness are disabilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Providers who cannot demonstrate that the required aids and services impose an "undue burden" could be subject to potential liability for violation of the provisions of the ADA. The nature of the assistive actions needed, the costs to be borne by your medical practice, and your financial resources are considered in any determination by a court of what is reasonable or an undue burden. The failure of a medical practice to make reasonable modifications to ensure that a person known to be disabled is not denied its services is also considered discrimination under the federal law.

At least one court case has ruled in favor of the plaintiff over the issue of provision of an interpreter for a hearing-impaired patient in a primary care physician's office. Many office settings have evaluated their facilities relative to physical access for the disabled; an assessment of the needs of the practice's patient population to meet any sensory disabilities identified should also be considered.