ADA Notice
Disability rights are civil rights. From voting to parking, the ADA is a law that protects people with disabilities in many areas of public life.
Accessibility Best Practices
Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Allegheny County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.
Employment
Allegheny 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.
Effective Communication
Allegheny 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 Allegheny 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.
Modifications to Policies and Procedures
Allegheny 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 Allegheny 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 Allegheny County should complete a Disability Accommodation Request Form(PDF, 206KB) and send the form, as soon as possible, (no later than 48 hours) before the scheduled event.
Caylin N. Snyder, ADA Coordinator
Department of Human Resources
920 City-County Building
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-350-2649
Fax: 412-350-5230
The ADA does not require Allegheny 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 Allegheny County is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to Caylin N. Snyder, ADA Coordinator, Department of Human Resources, County of Allegheny, 412-350-2649.
Allegheny 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.
Grievance Procedure Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
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 Allegheny County. The county's Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation 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. An Allegheny County ADA Grievance form(PDF, 352KB) is available. 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 after the alleged violation to Caylin N. Snyder, ADA Coordinator, Department of Human Resources, County of Allegheny 412-350-2649.
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, Caylin N. Snyder or her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days of the meeting, Caylin N. Snyder 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 Allegheny County and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
If the response by Caylin N. Snyder or her designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within 15 calendar days after receipt of the response to the County Manager’s Office or their designee.
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the County Manager’s Office or their designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days after the meeting, the County Manager’s Office or their 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 Caylin N. Snyder or her designee, appeals to the County Manager’s Office or their designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by Allegheny County for at least three years.