Nondiscrimination and Language Access
Everyone is treated on the same terms here, and help is available free of charge if English is not your first language or if you need an accommodation.
Effective date: to be confirmed at launch
1Our commitment
Jona Psychiatry complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws. We do not exclude anyone, refuse care, or treat anyone differently on the basis of:
- Race, colour, national origin or ethnicity
- Age
- Disability, including a mental health or substance use condition
- Sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity
- Religion
- Marital or family status
- Source of payment, including public insurance
Psychiatric care asks people to say difficult things about themselves. That only works where someone expects to be met without judgement, so this is a working condition of the practice rather than a formality.
2Free help we provide
These are provided at no cost to you. You will never be billed for them.
- Qualified sign language interpreters
- Written material in other formats, including large print, accessible electronic formats and audio
- Qualified interpreters in languages other than English
- Written information in other languages
- Reasonable adjustments to how an appointment is run, where a disability makes the usual format difficult
Please do not use a family member as your interpreter. It is common, it is well meant, and it reliably distorts psychiatric assessment, because people leave things out in front of relatives. A qualified interpreter is free and is bound by the same confidentiality rules as the practice.
3Language assistance
If your first language is not English, or you are more comfortable discussing your health in another language, tell us when you book and interpretation will be arranged for your appointment at no cost.
Interpretation is available for telepsychiatry appointments as well as in person.
4How to ask
Ask as early as you can, so it is arranged before your appointment rather than during it.
- By phone on (240) 673-7091
- By email to masfaw@JonaPsychiatry.com
- On the appointment request form, in the message field
You do not need to provide documentation of a disability to ask for a reasonable accommodation.
5If you believe you were treated unfairly
You may raise it with the practice, with the federal government, or with both.
With the practice
Contact Dr. Meseret Asfaw on (240) 673-7091 or at masfaw@JonaPsychiatry.com. Raising a concern will never affect your care.
With the federal government
You may file a civil rights complaint with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at 200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington DC 20201, by calling 1-800-368-1019 or 1-800-537-7697 for TDD, or online at ocrportal.hhs.gov. Complaint forms are available at hhs.gov/ocr/complaints.
Other notices
Questions about any of these: (240) 673-7091 or masfaw@JonaPsychiatry.com