ADA Grievance Policy

I. Purpose

The City of Evanston (“City,") a public entity, hereby establishes a grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of any complaints alleging actions prohibited by the U.S. Department of Justice regulating Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This procedure shall be available to all individuals utilizing the services and facilities of the City. Qualified individuals with disabilities shall not be excluded from participating in, or denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination in any programs or activities sponsored by this public entity.

II. Procedure

1. All complaints regarding access or related alleged discrimination are to be submitted in writing on an ADA Inquiry/Grievance Form  to the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator for resolution. Once submitted, this form is automatically sent to the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator.
   Alternative means of communicating grievances, such as personal interviews, will be made available upon request. Any grievance should include a detailed description of the alleged discriminatory action to inform the City of the nature and date of the alleged violation. The grievance should be submitted by the complainant and/or their designee as soon as possible but no later than 30 calendar days after the alleged violation.
   
   
2. Within 10 days of receiving an inquiry/grievance, the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator will meet with the complainant to discuss the concern/s and possible resolutions. The Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator will provide a written response or response format accessible to the complainant, which includes an explanation of the position of the City and options offered for substantive resolution of the complaint within 15 days of this meeting.
   
   
3. If the response of the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator is not acceptable to the complainant, the complainant may within 10 calendar days, request that a grievance be forwarded to the Director of the department that provides services related to the grievance. The grievance will be forwarded and communication included in step two above will be completed with this Director.
   
   
4. If the response of the applicable Director is not acceptable to the complainant, the complainant may within 10 calendar days, request that a grievance be forwarded to the City Manager. The grievance will be forwarded and communication included in step two above will be completed with the City Manager, who will provide final resolution of the grievance.
   
   
5. All written grievances received by the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator, appeals to the department Directors, appeals to the City Manager, and responses from these offices will be retained by the City of Evanston for at least three years.
   
   
6. The individual’s right to prompt and equitable resolution shall not impair their pursuit of other remedies, such as the filing of a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice or any other appropriate federal agency, or a court of competent jurisdiction. The use of this grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.