Chapter 1.384
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT POLICIES
Sections:
1.384.020 Grievance procedure.
1.384.010 Policies.
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), Chelan County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.
(1) Employment. Chelan County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.
(2) Effective Communication. Chelan County will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in Chelan County programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.
(3) Modifications to Policies and Procedures. Chelan County will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in Chelan County offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of Chelan County should contact the Office of the Chelan County Commissioners, 400 Douglas Street, Suite No. 201, Wenatchee, Washington, as soon as possible but no later than forty-eight hours before the scheduled event.
The ADA does not require Chelan County to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.
Complaints that a program, service, or activity of Chelan County is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to County Administrator Cathy Mulhall, Chelan County Commissioners, 400 Douglas Street, Suite No. 201, Wenatchee, Washington. Chelan County will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs. (Res. 2009-31 (part), 3/2/09).
1.384.020 Grievance procedure.
This grievance procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by Chelan County. The county’s personnel policy governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination.
The complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, and description of the problem. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complaint, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.
The complaint should be submitted by the grievant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible but no later than sixty calendar days after the alleged violation to:
County Administrator Cathy Mulhall
400 Douglas Street, Suite #201
Wenatchee, Washington
Within fifteen calendar days after receipt of the complaint, Cathy Mulhall or her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within fifteen calendar days of the meeting, Cathy Mulhall or her designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, Braille, or audio tape. The response will explain the position of Chelan County and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
If the response by Cathy Mulhall or her designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within fifteen calendar days after receipt of the response to the chair of the county commissioners or his designee.
Within fifteen calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the chair of the county commissioners or his designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within fifteen calendar days after the meeting, the chair of the county commissioners or his designee will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.
All written complaints received by Cathy Mulhall or her designee, appeals to the chair of the county commissioners or his designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by Chelan County for at least three years. (Res. 2009-31 (part), 3/2/09).