Section 504 Parent Rights

1623 - SECTION 504/ADA PROHIBITION AGAINST DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT


The Board of Education prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant based upon his/her disability. As such, the Board will not engage in employment practices or adopt policies that discriminate on the basis of disability, or otherwise discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. The Board further will not limit, segregate or classify applicants or employees in any way that adversely affects their opportunities or status because of disability. Additionally, the Board will not participate in any contractual or other relationships that have the effect of subjecting qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants or employees to discrimination on the basis of disability.


"An individual with a disability" means a person who has, had a record of, or is regarded as having, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, sitting, reaching, interacting with others, and working.


Major life activities also include the operation of a major bodily function, including, but not limited to, functions of the immune system, special sense organs and skin, normal cell growth, and digestive, genitourinary, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, hemic, lymphatic, musculoskeletal and reproductive functions. The operation of a major bodily function includes the operation of an individual organ within a body system.


An impairment that is episodic in nature or in remission is considered a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active.


The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity must be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as medication, medical supplies, equipment or appliances, low-vision devices (defined as devices that magnify, enhance, or otherwise augment a visual image, but not including ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses), prosthetics (including limbs and devices), hearing aid(s) and cochlear implant(s) or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, oxygen therapy equipment or supplies, use of assistive technology, reasonable accommodations or "auxiliary aides or services," learned behavioral or adaptive neurological modifications, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, or physical therapy.


A qualified person with a disability means the individual satisfies the requisite skill, experience, education and other job-related requirements of the employment position such individual holds or desires and, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job in question.


The Board will provide a reasonable accommodation to a qualified individual who has an actual disability or who has a record of a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the District’s program and/or activities. A reasonable accommodation is not required for an individual who is merely regarded as having a disability.


Compliance Officer(s)


The Board designates the following individual(s) to serve as the District's 504 Compliance Officer(s)/ADA Coordinator(s) (hereinafter referred to as the "District Compliance Officer(s)").


Director of Student Services
Katie Jimenez
419-533-4498

Superintendent
Richie Peters
100 Tiger Trail
Liberty Center, Ohio 43532
419-533-5011

The names, titles, and contact information of these individuals will be published annually in the staff handbooks and on the School District's web site.


The District Compliance Officer(s) are responsible for coordinating the District's efforts to comply with and fulfill its responsibilities under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended ("ADA"). A copy of Section 504 and the ADA, including copies of their implementing regulations, may be obtained from the District Compliance Officer(s).


The District Compliance Officer(s) will oversee the investigation of any complaints of discrimination based on disability, which may be filed pursuant to the Board's adopted internal complaint procedure, and will attempt to resolve such complaints. The Board will provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging violations of Section 504/ADA. See below.


Training


The District Compliance Officer(s) will also oversee the training of employees in the District so that all employees understand their rights and responsibilities under Section 504 and the ADA, and are informed of the Board's policies, administrative guidelines and practices with respect to fully implementing and complying with the requirements of Section 504/ADA.


The Board will provide in-service training and consultation to staff responsible for the education of persons with disabilities, as necessary and appropriate.


Facilities


No qualified person with a disability will, because the District's facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by persons with disabilities, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity to which Section 504/ADA applies.


For facilities constructed or altered after June 3, 1977, the District will comply with applicable accessibility standards. For those existing facilities constructed prior to June 3, 1977, the District is committed to operating its programs and activities so that they are readily accessible to persons with disabilities.


Notice


Notice of the Board's policy on nondiscrimination in employment practices and the identity of the District's Compliance Officer(s) will be posted throughout the District, and published in the District's recruitment statements or general information publications.


Complaint Procedures


If a person believes that s/he has been discriminated against on the basis of his/her disability, the person may utilize the following complaint procedures as a means of reaching, at the lowest possible administrative level, a prompt and equitable resolution of the matter.


In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulations ("Section 504"), employees will be notified of their right to file an internal complaint regarding an alleged violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of Section 504. In addition, employees will be notified of their right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.


Internal complaints must be put in writing and must identify the specific circumstances or areas of dispute that have given rise to the complaint, and offer possible solutions to the dispute. The complaint must be filed with a District Compliance Officer within the time limits specified below. The District's Compliance Officer is available to assist individuals in filing a complaint.


Internal Complaint Procedure


The following internal complaint procedure is available to employees for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging discrimination based upon disability. This complaint procedure is not available to unsuccessful applicants. Use of the internal complaint procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies, including the filing of a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

  •     An employee with a complaint based on alleged discrimination on the basis of disability may first discuss the problem with the District Compliance Officer.
  •     If the informal discussion does not resolve the matter, or if the employee skips Step A, the individual may file a formal written complaint with the District Compliance Officer. The written complaint must contain the name and address of the individual or representative filing the complaint, be signed by the complainant or someone authorized to sign for the complainant, describe the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the District Compliance Officer of the nature and date of the alleged violation, and propose a resolution. The complaint must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days of the circumstances or event giving rise to the complaint, unless the time for filing is extended by the District Compliance Officer for good cause.
  •     The District Compliance Officer will conduct an independent investigation of the matter (which may or may not include a hearing). This complaint procedure contemplates informal, but thorough investigations, affording all interested persons and their representatives, if any, an opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence relevant to the complaint. The District Compliance Officer will provide the complainant with a written disposition of the complaint within ten (10) work days. If no decision is rendered within ten (10) work days, or the decision is unsatisfactory in the opinion of the complainant, the employee may file, in writing, an appeal with the Superintendent. The District Compliance Officer shall maintain the District’s files and records relating to the complaint. 
  •   The Superintendent will, within ten (10) work days of receiving the written appeal, conduct a hearing with all parties involved in an attempt to resolve the complaint.   The Superintendent will render his/her decision within ten (10) work days of the hearing.
  •    The employee may be represented, at his/her own cost, at any of the above-described meetings/hearings.
  •    The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint shall not be impaired by the person’s pursuit of other remedies such as the filing of a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights or the filing of a court case. Use of this internal complaint procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.

If it is determined that the complainant was subjected to unlawful discrimination, the CO must identify what corrective action will be taken to stop, remedy, and prevent the recurrence of the discrimination/retaliation. The corrective action should be reasonable, timely, age-appropriate and effective, and tailored to the specific situation.


OCR Complaint


At any time, if an employee believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination based upon his/her disability in violation of Section 504 or the ADA, the individual may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights ("OCR"). The OCR can be reached at:


U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Cleveland Office
1350 Euclid Avenue
Suite 325
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 522-4970
FAX: (216) 522-2573
TDD: (216) 522-4944

E-mail: OCR.Cleveland@ed.gov

Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr


Retaliation

Retaliation against a person who makes a report or files a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination, or participates as a witness in an investigation, is prohibited. Specifically, the Board will not discriminate/retaliate against, coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with any individual because the person opposed any act or practice made unlawful by Section 504 or the ADA, or because that individual made a charge, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under those laws, or because that individual exercised, enjoyed, aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected by those laws.


© Neola 2014

Legal
29 C.F.R. Part 1630
29 U.S.C. 794, Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
34 C.F.R. Part 104
42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended
Last Modified by Deborah Bolen Miller on September 27, 2017