When any person or authorized representative believes that the City of Los Angeles has violated Title II of the ADA by denying access to its programs and services based on a disability a formal grievance may be filed with the ADA Compliance Officer. This individual supervises the Disability Access and Services, located within the City's Department on Disability.

Step 1. The grievance should be documented on an ADA Title II Grievance Form (Attachment B) and should contain as much information as possible concerning the alleged violation. This form must be completed by the grievant or his/her authorized representative. Tape recorders and/or other assistance for persons with visual or motor impairments, and TDD=s and/or Qualified Sign Language Interpreters for deaf or hearing impaired persons will be made available by the Disability Access and Services. The grievance should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the alleged violation. Strict confidentiality of all information provided will be maintained to the extent permitted by law. Sharing of information, including identity, will be done only as needed to resolve the grievance.

Step 2. The City of Los Angeles ADA Compliance Officer will review the completed ADA Title II Grievance Form within ten (10) working days of receipt. He will then discuss the issues with the grievant and the concerned department(s), and will initially attempt to resolve the grievance informally.

If the ADA Compliance Officer determines further investigation is warranted, a Notice of Continuing Investigation (NCI) (Attachment C) will be mailed to the grievant within fifteen (15) working days. If appropriate, the ADA Compliance Officer may also arrange to meet with the grievant to discuss the matter and possible resolution. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the NCI is sent, the Compliance Officer will respond in writing and, where appropriate, will do so in a format accessible to the grievant.

If the City's response does not satisfactorily resolve the matter, the grievant and/or authorized representative may appeal the decision of the ADA Compliance Officer within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the City's response to the Chairperson of the ADA Grievance Appeals Committee (ADAGAC). Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Chairperson (the General Manager of the Personnel Department, or designee), will convene a meeting of the Committee, either by telephone or in person, to discuss the matter and possible resolution with the grievant. In addition to the General Manager of the Personnel Department, the Committee will consist of a member of the City Commission on Disability and a representative from another City department.

Within thirty (30) calendar days after this meeting, the Chairperson of the Committee will respond in writing and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the grievant. If the grievant is dissatisfied with the response of the ADA Grievance Appeals Committee, he/she may contact the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or seek private counsel.