ADA & Disability Services

Modifications to Policies and Procedures 

The City will make all reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to ensure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all programs, services, and activities.

Effective Communication

The City will, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in the City's programs, services, and activities. This includes qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other means of making information and communications accessible to people who have disabilities impacting their speech, hearing, or vision.

Accommodation Requests

Anyone who requires a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity, or an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, should complete an ADA/Disability Service Request through the City's 311 Center and contact the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator as soon as possible, but no later than seven days before the scheduled event. 

The following services also are provided:

• Inclusion services and support for Parks & Recreation programs
• ADA technical assistance
• Information and referral
• Advocacy and training
• Personal assistance
• Translation services (as needed)

The City may not take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the City. The City will not place a surcharge on an individual with a disability or group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids and services or reasonable modifications of policy and procedures.

For more information or to request an accommodation, please contact: 

Lauren Ruiz, CTRS, ADAC (she, her, hers)
Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator
lruiz@cityofevanston.org / 847-424-5496

Additional information about the City's ongoing commitment to providing access to City programs, services, and activities, parks, facilities, and public right-of-way for individuals with disabilities can be found in the Evanston 2022 ADA Transition Plan.

ADA Inquiries and Grievance Policy

Local governments must comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As a part of this compliance, the federal government requires that each local government have a process whereby persons who feel that access has been denied to them can appeal. This process is known as the ADA Grievance Policy.

To inquire about an accessibility concern or to file a grievance, please complete an ADA Inquiry/Grievance Form. Once submitted, this form will be automatically sent to the Inclusion & Accessibility Division Manager/ADA Coordinator, Lauren Ruiz, CTRS, ADAC. For assistance with completing this form or for alternative options to communicate your inquiry or grievance, please email: disabilityservices@cityofevanston.org or call 847-424-5496.

For additional information on statewide programs and services, please view these Accessibility Contacts, courtesy of the State of Illinois Capital Development Board.