This grievance procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 ("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 the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”).
INITIAL COMPLAINT
A complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits shall be in writing and contain specific information about the alleged discrimination, including but not limited to the name, address, and phone number of the complainant; the location and date of the alleged discriminatory incident; and a 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 complainant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible, but no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the alleged violation to:
Jacqueline Crews
Customer Service Manager/Agency ADA Coordinator for Litigants
District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings
441 4th Street NW, Suite 450N
Washington, DC 20001
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-478-9205
ADA COORDINATOR
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator or designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and its possible resolution. The ADA Coordinator or designee may take steps to research the complaint, including, but not limited to, investigating the details of the complaint, and consulting with any personnel involved in the alleged discriminatory incident.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the meeting, the ADA Coordinator or designee will respond in writing, or, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, braille, or audio tape. The response will explain the position of OAH as to the validity of the complaint and may offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
APPEAL OF ADA COORDINATOR RESPONSE
If the complainant believes that the response by the ADA Coordinator or designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the response to:
LaShelle Jenkins
Chief Operating Officer
District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings
441 4th Street NW, Suite 450N
Washington, DC 20001
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-671-0133
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Chief Operating Officer or designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and its possible resolution. The Chief Operating Officer or designee may take steps to research the complaint and appeal, including, but not limited to, investigating the details of the complaint, and consulting with any personnel involved in the alleged discriminatory incident.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the meeting, the Chief Operating Officer or designee will respond in writing, or, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.
RECORDS
All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator and appeals to the Chief Operating Officer, and responses from these officials will be retained by OAH for at least three (3) years. Records will be maintained in accordance with the relevant confidentiality requirements of the ADA and District law.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Additionally, the District of Columbia Office of Disability Rights (ODR) provides technical and informal dispute resolution assistance if needed. For additional information and assistance, please contact:
District of Columbia Office of Disability Rights
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 729N
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-724-5055
TTY: 711