Monroe County, Indiana

The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals on the basis of disability.  Under the ADA, individuals experience discrimination when they are denied reasonable access to government facilities, services, and programs as a result of limited mobility, hearing, vision, etc.  The ADA requires governments to address those situations by making “reasonable accommodations” such as installing curb ramps and dedicated parking spaces, and making auxiliary audio and visual aids available to promote communication and participation in public meetings.  Monroe County Government fully supports the objectives of the ADA and is committed to designing, altering, maintaining, and offering access to, its facilities, services, and programs in ways that truly serve those objectives.

To that end, the Board of County Commissioners has adopted an ADA Transition Plan.  The Plan recognizes that full compliance with the ADA standards has not yet been achieved.  It identifies the known shortfalls, describes the corrective steps needed, and sets forth a schedule for making those corrections.  Because County facilities, services, programs, and resource availability are frequently changing, the ADA Transition Plan is a ”living document.”  It requires continuing attention, thought, and improvement.  The Board of County Commissioners has established an ADA Advisory Committee, has appointed an ADA Coordinator, and has charged them with keeping the Plan alive and moving forward.  The Monroe County Council has supported the Plan by increasing funding for ADA compliance.

These ongoing efforts are crucial to the success of the Plan.  Yet, they are not always enough.  County Government is not able to anticipate or foresee every potential accessibility issue or shortfall as it prepares its facilities, and delivers its services and programs.  For that reason, County Government seeks your assistance.  If you, or someone you know, has experienced a barrier to County Government facilities, services, or programs, please contact Angie Purdie, the Monroe County ADA Coordinator by email at apurdie@co.monroe.in.us,  by telephone at (812) 349-2550, or by post at Commissioners Office, Courthouse Room 323, 100 W. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, Indiana 47404.  You will receive a prompt response.

County Government is grateful for your interest in better access, and for your assistance in bringing it about.  

Dave

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SECTION 504 NOTICE – NOTICE UNDER THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the American Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), Monroe County Government, Monroe County, Indiana (“Monroe County”) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Participation in the Development of The ADA Transition Plan:  Monroe County Government will provide opportunity for the disabled community and other interested parties to participate in the development of the ADA Transition Plan and any amendments to the plan.  Such Opportunity shall include providing access to information about the plan, access to draft documents, procedures and standards, and also the ability to comment on the various parts of the ADA Transition Plan as they are in development.

Employment:  Monroe 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:  Monroe 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 Monroe County’s 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:  Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, should contact Angie Purdie, Monroe County Commissioners’ Administrator, (812)349-2550, apurdie@co.monroe.in.us, as soon as possible but no later than two (2) business days before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require Monroe 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 Monroe County is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to Angie Purdie, Monroe County Commissioners’ Administrator, (812)349-2550, apurdie@co.monroe.in.us.

Monroe 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.

How To File an ADA Grievance

ADA Complaint / Grievance Form