ADA Services

1. PURPOSE AND INTENT
1. The purpose and intent of this grievance procedure is to effect and accomplish the goals of the City of Akron, Ohio, consistent with the purpose and intent of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). This procedure is available for use by qualified persons with disabilities to resolve alleged discrimination in programs, activities, or services provided by the City of Akron.
2. GRIEVANCE: PRELIMINARY ACTION
   1. A person who believes that he/she is aggrieved by any alleged discriminatory conduct prohibited by the ADA (hereinafter referred to as the "Grievant") may file a written grievance with the Office of the ADA Coordinator, Assistant to the Mayor for Community Relations, Billy Soule, within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the alleged discriminatory conduct. The Grievant must complete the grievance forms) as provided by the ADA Coordinator. A record of the grievance and actions taken will be maintained and updated as needed.
   2. The ADA Coordinator shall conduct or cause to be conducted an informal investigation of the alleged discriminatory conduct and shall attempt resolution of the grievance by an informal conference between the Grievant and the person alleged to have violated the ADA (hereinafter referred to as the "City")
3. INVESTIGATION
   The ADA Coordinator shall conduct or cause to be conducted an informal investigation of the grievance and shall determine whether:
   1. There are reasonable grounds to believe that a discriminatory violation of the ADA may have occurred, in which case the ADA Coordinator shall initiate the conference process as set forth.
2. There are reasonable grounds to believe that a discriminatory violation of the ADA has not occurred, in which case the ADA Coordinator shall prepare a report and notify the parties of the decision. The ADA Coordinator should first attempt to personally notify the Grievant and explain the findings to that person. If personal contact cannot be achieved, a copy of the written report shall be sent by certified mail to the Grievant. A copy of the finding shall also be filed in the records of the ADA Coordinator.
4. CONFERENCE
   If the ADA Coordinator has made a determination that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a discriminatory violation of the ADA may have occurred, the ADA Coordinator shall:
1. Notify the Grievant and the City of the time, place and date of the conference at least ten (10) days prior thereto, and both parties shall appear at the conference in person or by a legal representative; and
2. Attempt to resolve the grievance by methods of conference with all interested parties and such representatives as the parties may choose to assist them. Conferences shall be informal and nothing said or done during such conference shall be made public unless the parties agree thereto in writing. The terms agreed to by the parties may be reduced to writing. Any written agreement shall be filed in the records of the ADA Coordinator, and shall be available to all appropriate federal, state or local agencies or courts having competent jurisdiction.
5. REMEDIES
   This Grievance Procedure shall not prevent the City of Akron or any person from exercising any right or seeking any remedy to which that party might otherwise be entitled or from filing any grievance with any other agency or court of law or equity.

• Grievance Form (8k pdf)