The purpose of the grievance procedure is to provide residents a means to file complaints regarding:
- Clark County policies or the provision of services, activities and programs to persons with disabilities;
- Alleged discrimination in the provision of services, activities and programs under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ; and,
- Structural and parking accessibility issues on county owned or controlled property.
Clark County employees may file complaints involving alleged discrimination in employment practices to Human Resources where collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws will guide the investigative procedure and resolution process.
Grievance Procedure and Format
The complainant needs to provide their name, address, phone number and the location, date, and description of the problem. Alternate means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complainant, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.
Grievance Filing
The complainant and/or their designee should submit the complaint as soon as possible but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to:
Clark County ADA Coordinator
Internal Services
1300 Franklin Street, Sixth Floor
Vancouver, WA 98660
Main phone: 564.397.2282
TTY: 800.833.6388 or Relay Service 711
Speech to Speech Relay: 877.833.6341
ADA@clark.wa.gov
Grievance Review
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator or the Human Resource representative will meet with or contact the complainant to review and clarify the issues of the complaint.
Within 30 calendar days of the initial meeting, a response will be provided to the complainant in writing or in a format to accommodate the complainant. The response will explain the position of Clark County and/or offer options for resolution or mediation.
Grievance Appeal Process
If the initial response to the complaint does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or their designee may appeal the decision within 15 calendar days after receipt of the county's response to the Clark County Manager.
Clark County Manager
Clark County Council
P.O. Box 5000
1300 Franklin Street, Sixth Floor
Vancouver, WA 98666-5000
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the County Manager or his/her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions.
Within 15 calendar days after the initial meeting the County Manager 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. The County Manager or designee may, when appropriate, utilize the services of county mediation programs to resolve complaints.
If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the complainant may elect to file a federal complaint or pursue some other means of resolution.
Grievance Retention
All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator, appeals to County Manager or his or her designee, and responses from the ADA Coordinator and County Manager or his or her designee will be retained by Clark County for at least three years.
Federal Grievance
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Government, or organization, or institution suspected of discrimination)
Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in employment by a state or local government in violation of Title II may file a complaint:
- With a federal agency that provides financial assistance (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), if any, to the State or local program in which the alleged discrimination took place; or
- With the EEOC, the state or local government is also subject to Title I of the ADA; or
- With the federal agency designated in the Title regulation to investigate complaints in the type of program in which the alleged discrimination took place.
- As in the case with complaints related to non-employment issues, employment complaints may be filed with the Department of Justice, which will refer the complaint to the appropriate agency.