HomeMy WebLinkAbout68 22�C,�
Jv BOARD OF JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
IN THE MATTER OF UPDATING THE )
JEFFERSON COUNTY AMERICANS WITH ) RESOLUTION 68 22
DISABILITIES ACCOMMODATION (ADA) )
POLICY
WHEREAS, the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners approved Resolution
68-20 that adopted an ADA Accommodation Policy to ensure that persons with
disabilities have equal and meaningful access to County services and public facilities; and
WHEREAS, the ADA Accommodation contacts for Jefferson County are the
Central Services Director, the Superior Court Administrator, and the District Court
Administrator, and;
WHEREAS, while the last iteration of the ADA Accommodation Policy contained
the names and titles of the ADA Accommodation contacts, the County would like only the
titles listed;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Board of Jefferson
County Commissioners, that Jefferson County's ADA Accommodation Policy be amended
effective on the date below.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution No. 68-20 along with its amendments
is hereby repealed and replaced by adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this / I- day offer 2022.
SEAL:
ATTEST:
ll
�- Yn J allawa Y
Carl , CMC /
Clerk of the Board
ERSON COUNTY
RD OF CO7MMISSION�ERS
V
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nkour, Chair
Kate n
, Memb
rotherton, Member
JEFFERSON COUNTY
ADA ACCOMMODATION POLICY
Access to governmental services for all persons is a fundamental right. It is the policy of Jefferson
County to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal and meaningful access to County
services and public facilities.
Application:
This policy shall apply to all employees of Jefferson County and members of the public who seek
accommodations due to a disability or disabilities as defined under the Americans with Disabilities
Act and its amendments. All County offices and departments subject to the rulemaking authority of
the Board of County Commissioners will be required to follow the procedural requirements set
forth in this policy, when receiving or addressing requests made to Jefferson County for
accommodation of persons with a disability.
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to create a uniform process by which persons with disabilities can
obtain reasonable accommodations in order to access or participate in County services, programs
and facilities. Specifically, this policy outlines how Jefferson County will carry out this purpose
and sets forth a process by which requests for accommodation will be handled.
Responsibilities:
This policy will define who is eligible to apply for an accommodation and will set forth a process
for applicants to present accommodation requests.
Jefferson County must assess whether or not to provide a requested accommodation under the
definitions and rules contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Jefferson County will provide a reasonable accommodation unless the applicant has failed to meet
the substantive requirements of this policy, or the requested accommodation would create an undue
burden; fundamentally alter the nature of the County service, program or activity; or the
accommodation would create a direct threat to the safety orwell-being of the applicant or others.
Definitions:
Accommodation means measures to make each County service, program or activity, when viewed in
its entirety, readily accessible to and usable by an individual who is a person with a disability, and
may include, but is not limited to:
A) Making reasonable modifications in policies, practices and procedures.
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective December 19, 2022
B) Furnishing, at no charge, auxiliary aids and services, including but not limited to equipment,
devices, materials in alternative formats, certified or qualified interpreters or readers.
Applicant means any person with a disability who has a specific interest in, desires access to, or is
participating in any County service or program.
Person with a disability means a person covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(& 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the Washington Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60 et seq.), or
other similar local, state or federal laws which govern Jefferson County. This term includes but is
not limited to an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major
life activities, has a documented history of such impairment or is regarded as having such
impairment.
Procedural Requirements:
I. Notification
All requests for accommodation shall be made using the approved "Jefferson County Request
for Accommodation" form, which is included as Attachment A. (This form is available in the
Quick Links section of the County's homepage under Americans with Disabilities Act.)
A) The form may be presented in writing or presented orally and reduced to writing.
B) If a request for reasonable accommodation is made directly by an applicant to an employee of
Jefferson County, the employee shall be responsible for ensuring that the Request for Reasonable
Accommodation form is completed, either by having the applicant, or a person on their behalf,
complete the form, or by the employee taking the information orally, completing the form and
forwarding the request to the Jefferson County ADA Coordinator.
C) If a non -County agency or body (e.g. other state or local governmental agency, advocacy group,
etc.) makes a request for reasonable accommodation on behalf of a disabled individual to Jefferson
County, then that agency or body is responsible for completing and forwarding the Request for
Reasonable Accommodation form to Jefferson County's ADA Coordinator.
D) The Request for Reasonable Accommodation form shall include a description of the
accommodation sought, along with a statement of the impairment necessitating the
accommodation.
E) Jefferson County may require the applicant to provide additional information about the qualifying
impairment to help assess the appropriate accommodation. Medical and other health information
shall be submitted under a cover sheet designated "Confidential Medical and Health Information.
Such information is confidential and shall only be used by the person(s) responsible for evaluating
and arranging for the accommodation, or as required by law.
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective December 19, 2022
F) An application for accommodation should be made as far in advance as practical of the
event/date for which the accommodation is sought, but not less than 5 business days prior to
the event/service date, except in the case of an emergency.
II. Assessment:
A) In determining whether to grant an accommodation, Jefferson County will:
i) Consider the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et
seq.) and its amendments, and the Washington Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60), and
other similar local, state and federal laws which govern Jefferson County.
ii) Give primary consideration to the accommodation requested by the applicant.
iii) Make the decision on an individual and case specific basis with due regard to the nature of
the applicant's disability and feasibility of the requested accommodation.
B) If an application for accommodation is presented to Jefferson County five (5) or more
business days prior to the event/service date for which the accommodation is sought, an
accommodation shall be provided unless:
i) The requested accommodation is not available, and no alternative accommodation would
enable the applicant to participate in the event or service requested.
C) If an application for accommodation is presented to Jefferson County fewer than five (5)
business days prior to the scheduled date of the event or service for which the accommodation
is requested, and if the applicant would otherwise be entitled to an accommodation, it shall be
provided unless:
i) It is impossible for the County to provide a reasonable accommodation on the date specified
due to insufficient advance notice.
D) An application for accommodation may be denied if Jefferson County finds one or more of
the following:
i) The applicant has failed to satisfy the substantive requirements of this policy.
ii) The requested accommodation would create an undue financial or administrative burden.
iii) The requested accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the County
service, program or activity.
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective December 19, 2022
iv) The requested accommodation would create a direct threat to the safety or well-being of
the applicant or others.
III. Accommodation or Denial
A) Jefferson County will render a decision in writing regarding the requested accommodation.
This written decision shall be prepared by the County ADA Coordinator within 3 business
days of receipt of the "Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form".
B) If the request is granted the ADA Coordinator, or his/her designee, shall notify the applicant
that the request has been approved and describe the reasonable accommodation that will be
made. The ADA Coordinator, or his/her designee, shall also notify any other County
employee(s) responsible for implementing the accommodation regarding the nature of the
accommodation to be provided.
C) If Jefferson County denies an accommodation, the written decision shall be provided to the
applicant, including the reasons for denial.
IV. Record Keeping
The ADA Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining copies of all Requests for
Reasonable Accommodations made to Jefferson County and copies of all written decisions.
All employees of Jefferson County are responsible for forwarding copies of the Request for
Reasonable Accommodation Forms to the ADA Coordinator within one business day of
receipt.
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective December 19, 2022
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY:
ADA Coordinator for Jefferson County (Non -court related requests)
Director of Central Services
P.O. Box 1220
1820 Jefferson Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368 Phone
Number (360) 385-9362
County website: https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY
COURTS:
Superior Court Administrator
Jefferson County Superior Court
P.O. Box 1220
1820 Jefferson Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360)
385-9395
District Court Administrator
P.O. Box 1220
1820 Jefferson Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360)
385-9134
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective December 19, 2022
ATTACHMENT A
Jefferson County
Request for ADA Accommodation Request Received:
(for County Use only)
1. Information about the Person Requesting
Accommodation. What is your name?
2. Describe the activity or County service you need accommodation for. Include the
date, time, and location:
3. Describe the disability for which you are requesting an accommodation:
4. Describe what accommodation you are requesting and explain why
this specific accommodation is necessary:
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective December 19, 2022
Page 2 of2
Provide any information that you think would help the County respond to yourrequest:
6. Contact information:
Email:
Mailing address:
Telephone where the County can leave a message:
Other (specify):
What is the best way to notify you about the decision on your
request? Email- mail - phone call - other (see above).
Date:
(Signature of Person Requesting Accommodation)
(Print Name of Person Requesting Accommodation)
Return this form to the County ADA Coordinator at:
Jefferson County ADA Coordinator
Central Services Department
P.O. BOX 1220
1820 Jefferson Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
ADA Accommodations Policy Page 5
Effective November 2, 2020 December 19, 2022
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight, Executive Assistant
DATE: December 19, 2022
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION: In the Matter of Updating the Jefferson County
Americans with Disabilities Accommodation (ADA) Policy
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The ADA Accommodation contacts for Jefferson County are the Central Services Director, the
Superior Court Administrator, and the District Court Administrator. Jefferson County's current
Resolution 68-20 lists the names of these individuals as the ADA Accommodations contacts.
Jefferson County has a new Central Services Director who shall fill this role of ADA Coordinator
for Jefferson County (non -court related requests). As to alleviate updating a resolution and ADA
Policy when a new employee is hired, staff requests amending the policy to remove the names of
Department Directors, and only list the positions who fill the role of ADA Accommodation
contacts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This request has no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Board of County Commissioners review and approve the proposed Resolution and changes to
the policy.
REVIEWED BY:
�Z- 2-7-
Mark McCaVy, County AdministM o Date