ADA Grievance Procedure
C-10
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
To comply with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities of 1990 (ADA), the Board of Trustees has adopted the following resolutions:
A. The Des Plaines Public Library Board of Trustees will comply with the rules and regulations governing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
B. The Library Director is designated as the staff member who will be responsible for coordinating the Library's efforts to comply with and carry out the Library's responsibilities in regard to the ADA including the investigation of all complaints.
C. Grievance procedure.
1. Complaints concerning the Des Plaines Public Library's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 may be filed with the Library Director. Grievance forms are available for this purpose.
2. The party alleging a complaint must file a grievance in writing, unless the nature of the party's disability necessitates a verbal filing. The written complaint, using the designated "Grievance Form" (Attachment C12A) may be filed by mail or in person; a verbal complaint may be filed over the telephone or in person. The complaint is to be filed with the Disability Compliance Coordinator's office within ten (10) working days of the alleged incident of discrimination.
Disability Compliance Coordinator: Library Director
Des Plaines Public Library 1501 Ellinwood Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016
3. The Disability Compliance Coordinator will promptly conduct an investigation into the noncompliance complaint, utilizing the technical expertise of Library departments and employees as required. The Compliance Coordinator will contact the complainant at regular intervals to report on the progress of the investigation until such time as a preliminary decision is reached.
Within five (5) working days after the determination of the preliminary decision on the complaint, the Disability Compliance Coordinator will meet with the complainant to discuss the grievance and seek a remedy. Within five (5) working days following the meeting, a written summary of the meeting and proposed remedy will be sent to the complainant. If noncompliance is determined a schedule for correcting the action or feature will be established.
4. The complainant has the right to appeal the resolution proposed by the Disability Compliance Coordinator. The appeal is to be filed within five (5) working days of the complainant's receipt of the proposed remedy. The appeal is to be filed in writing, unless the nature of the complaint's disability necessitates a verbal filing. A written appeal may be filed by mail or in person. A verbal appeal may be filed over the telephone or in person. The appeal is to be filed with the Library Director’s office. In addition to a copy of side one of the initial complaint form, the appeal will also contain the following:
- Recommended remedy of the Disability Compliance Coordinator.
- Complainant's response to the recommended remedy.
- Resolution sought by the complainant.
The Library Grievance Committee consists of the Executive Committee of the Library Board of Trustees. The purpose of the Grievance Committee is to provide a fair hearing of those complaints unable to be resolved at the Disability Compliance Coordinator level.
Within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the appeal, the Disability Compliance Coordinator will convene a meeting of the Grievance Committee unless extenuating circumstances make it necessary to extend the time period until such time as the committee is able to convene. The complainant and the individual/department involved will each have the opportunity to present their view.
The Grievance Committee will then reach a decision to either uphold the original remedy or present an alternate resolution. The Disability Compliance Coordinator will then inform the complainant, in writing, of the committee's decision, within five (5) working days of the committee meeting.
The appeal meeting and decision will conclude the grievance procedure. The preceding grievance procedure does not preclude the complainant from pursuing other remedies, nor is the grievance procedure a prerequisite for pursuing other courses of action.
5. A Complaint Register Log shall be kept by the office of the Disability Compliance Coordinator. Complaint form reports shall be retained for two (2) years from the date of the original complaint. Those complaints deemed "unfounded", "not pursued", etc. will be destroyed at the conclusion of the two (2) year period. Those complaints upheld and assigned a specific remedy shall be retained by the Disability Compliance Coordinator indefinitely.
Reviewed and Approved 10/15/96
Revised and Approved 06/15/99
Revised and Approved 03/20/01
Reviewed and Approved 06/17/03
Revised and Approved 06/20/06
Reviewed and Approved 04/15/08
Reviewed and Approved 07/20/10
Reviewed and Approved 01/18/13
Reviewed and Approved 12/17/15