Accessibility
Boone County is committed to making our websites accessible to all users. To meet this commitment, the county remains actively engaged in the ongoing process of testing, developing, and updating the website and makes every reasonable effort to comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from public entities, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the public entity.
If you have a disability and/or use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and the format of any material on the Boone County Web site interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact the Boone County ADA Coordinator for assistance. Please indicate the type of accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the information, the Web address of the requested information, and your contact information.
For information on browser accessibility options and settings, please visit the W3C's Web Accessibility Page on How to Change Text Size or Colors.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 provides comprehensive civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.
Who Is Protected Under the ADA?
The ADA protects qualified individuals with disabilities. An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. Under the ADA, a qualified individual with a disability is an individual with a disability who meets the essential eligibility requirements for receipt of services or participation in programs or activities. Whether a particular condition constitutes a disability within the meaning of the ADA requires a case-by-case determination.
What Is Title II of the ADA?
Title II of the ADA requires State and local governments to make their programs and services accessible to persons with disabilities. This requirement extends not only to physical access at government facilities, programs, and events -- but also to policy changes that governmental entities must make to ensure that all people with disabilities can take part in, and benefit from, the programs and services of State and local governments. In addition, governmental entities must ensure effective communication -- including the provision of necessary auxiliary aids and services -- so that individuals with disabilities can participate in civic life. Public entities are not required to take actions that would result in undue financial and administrative burdens. However, they are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures where necessary to avoid discrimination, unless they can demonstrate that doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity being provided.
Boone County ADA Transition Plan Update
One important way to ensure that Title II's requirements are being met is through self-evaluation, which is required by the ADA regulations. Self-evaluation enables local governments to pinpoint the facilities, programs and services that must be modified or relocated to ensure that local governments are complying with the ADA.
Boone County conducted a self-evaluation of programs and access in 1992. An Advisory Committee was formed to assist in this effort. The committee members included representatives from several disability advocacy organizations including Services for Independent Living, Brain Injury Association of Missouri as well as representatives from county Offices and Departments. Support and guidance was provided by the Great Plains ADA Group.
The self-evaluation identified a number of physical bars to access due to the age of the facilities Boone County services were provided through. Fortunately, Boone County was beginning the process of construction of new facilities, including a general government center and so were able to incorporate designs to eliminate access barriers that had previously existed. All subsequent construction, whether new construction or remodeling have been designed to comply with standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Since 1992, Boone County has continued to monitor programs and facilities to ensure that people with disabilities are assured an equal opportunity to participate in the programs and activities offered by Boone County. Boone County welcomes comments, suggestions for improvement or complaints.
Comments, suggestions or complaints can be directed to the Boone County ADA Coordinator, the Boone County Risk Management Specialist. The Boone County ADA Coordinator can be reached by phone at (573) 886-4395 or by email at hr@boonecountymo.org.
ADA Coordinator's Role
Title II of the ADA requires all state or local government entities with 50 or more employees to appoint a responsible person to coordinate the administrative requirements of ADA compliance and to respond to complaints filed by the public. The name and contact information for the responsible person is required to be publicly advertised.
Title II of the ADA stipulates five major administrative duties:
- Publicize the name and contact information of the designated ADA Coordinator responsible to oversee compliance;
- Administer and write self-evaluation of the programmatic barriers in services offered by the local government;
- Establish a complaint/grievance procedure to respond to complaints of noncompliance from the public;
- Develop a transition plan if structural changes are necessary for achieving program accessibility; and
- Retain the self-evaluation for three years.
The Boone County ADA Coordinator is the Boone County Risk Management Specialist. The Boone County ADA Coordinator can be reached by phone at (573) 886-4395 or by email at hr@boonecountymo.org.
ADA Grievance Procedure
Purpose
This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination by Boone County Government on the basis of disability in employment practices and policies or the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits.
Prior to filing a complaint, individuals should first contact the elected official or department head responsible for the services or programs offered by the department. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, then individuals should follow the procedures established below.
Procedure
A complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainants and location, date, and description of the problem. 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 but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to:
- Boone County Risk Management Specialist
- Boone County ADA Coordinator
- 613 E. Ash, Rm 102
- Columbia, MO 65201
- (573) 886-4395
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the meeting, the ADA Coordinator 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 Boone County and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
If the response by the ADA Coordinator does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision of the ADA Coordinator within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the response to the Presiding Commissioner or his or her designee.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Presiding Commissioner or his or her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the meeting the Presiding Commissioner or his or her 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 and appeals to the Presiding Commissioner or his or her designee and responses from the ADA Coordinator and Presiding Commissioner or his or her designee will be kept by Boone County for at least three years.