Deaf Incarcerated Man Sues Illinois Prisons Over Blocked Videophone Access
Daniel Valenzuela, a Deaf man incarcerated at Danville Correctional Center in eastern Illinois, filed a federal lawsuit on September 2, 2026, alleging that the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) denies Deaf people equal access to its expanded telephone program. The suit, filed against IDOC Director Latoya Hughes, was brought by Disability Rights Advocates, Equip for Equality, and Much Shelist, and alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
In 2025, IDOC expanded its telecommunications program, providing incarcerated individuals with tablets that allow up to 15 telephone calls per day from their housing units without relying on staff. The tablets include videophone capability, but the lawsuit alleges IDOC blocks that feature, preventing Deaf users who communicate primarily in American Sign Language from placing calls in ASL.
As a result, Valenzuela and other Deaf people in custody must be escorted outside their units to videophones in different buildings, and only during restricted hours when staff are available. The complaint states that the videophone was not functioning for 54 consecutive days from November 2025 to January 2026, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's, leaving Valenzuela unable to speak with his family during the holidays.
"When IDOC chose to expand telephone access through tablet technology, it had an obligation to ensure that Deaf people could benefit from that program on equal terms," said Rachel M. Weisberg, directing attorney at Disability Rights Advocates. "The ADA and Section 504 have long required public entities to provide effective communication and equal access. New technology cannot become another barrier for people with disabilities."
Valenzuela is seeking a court order requiring IDOC to provide telephone access equal to that offered to non-disabled people in custody. An IDOC spokesperson declined to comment, citing pending litigation.