An individual who believes he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, access to buildings, or benefits by an agency of Anne Arundel County Government should, if possible, try to resolve the issue locally with the director/supervisor of the program or services. If this informal attempt at resolution is unsuccessful, the complainant shall follow these steps.
Step 1: Complaint
Fill out all of the information requested on the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities Grievance Form located below. Please mail or hand deliver the completed form to the ADA Coordinator. The complaint should be submitted by the complainant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to the ADA Coordinator.
If the complainant needs a reasonable accommodation to communicate his/her complaint, such as an interpreter or an alternative format, it should be listed on the complaint form so that the ADA Coordinator can arrange for an accommodation for effective communication. ADA complaints must be filed within 60 calendar days after the discriminatory action or situation was alleged to have occurred.
Step 2: Meet with the ADA Coordinator for Anne Arundel County
Within 15 business days after the complaint is received by the ADA Coordinator, the Coordinator or designee will meet with the individual or contact him/her regarding his/her complaint.
If it is determined that the individual is a qualified individual with a disability under the ADA, the ADA Coordinator’s designee will attempt to resolve the complaint.
Step 3: Resolution of the Complaint
Complaint Resolved: If the individual and the ADA Coordinator’s designee jointly agree to a resolution of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator’s designee will put the joint agreement in writing and send it to the individual. The agreement will generally contain the following items:
- A description of the complaint;
- A summary of the facts;
- A description of the resolution agreed to;
- The timeframe for resolving the complaint; and,
- An assurance that Anne Arundel County will comply with the specific terms and conditions of the agreement.
Complaint Not Resolved: If the individual and the ADA Coordinator’s designee cannot resolve the complaint, the ADA Coordinator’s designee will send the individual a notice of that fact. The notice will generally include the following:
- A description of the complaint;
- A summary of any resolution proposed; and,
- A statement addressing the issues that could not be resolved.
It is important for the individual to keep copies of the original complaint/notifications received after meeting with the ADA Coordinator’s designee, as well as any other correspondence or other documentation that is related to the complaint and bring those copies to all meetings, reviews, and appeals related to the complaint. If the complaint is not resolved, the individual may request a further review of the complaint by the county ADA Coordinator, who will review the decision of the ADA Coordinator’s designee.
If additional information is required, the ADA Coordinator will schedule a meeting with the individual within 15 business days of having received the complaint. ADA Coordinator will issue a decision on the complaint within 15 business days of either having received the decision of the ADA Coordinator’s designee, or his meeting with the individual, whichever is appropriate. The decision of the ADA Coordinator is not appealable.
If the response by the ADA Coordinator’s designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision, in writing, within 15 calendar days after receipt of the response to the Anne Arundel County Department ADA Coordinator:
Jennifer Jackson
Office of ADA Coordinator
2666 Riva Road, Suite 400
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the ADA Coordinator or designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days after the meeting, the ADA Coordinator or 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 the ADA Coordinator or designee, and responses from this office will be retained by the Anne Arundel County Government for at least three years.
If the individual still believes the complaint has not been resolved, he/she may request a decision from the:
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
202-514-2000
Note: At any time during the complaint procedure, the complainant may refer the complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice at the address above. This information is available in alternative format upon request.