Accessibility Commitment:

Durham County Government is committed to complying with accessibility standards, including but not limited to WCAG 2.1 Level AA, to ensure digital content and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

Employment:

Durham County Government does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices. Durham County Government complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.

Effective Communication:

Durham County Government will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services to facilitate effective communication for persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in the Durham County Government’s programs, services, and activities. This includes but is not limited to providing 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:

Durham County Government 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.   

Requests:

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 Durham County Government, should contact Marie Costello-Inserra, Esq., EEO Counsel and ADA Coordinator and/or Brandon Truman, Esq., HR Investigator and ADA Compliance Specialist at their contact information listed below:
 

Informal Complaints:

Concerns or informal complaints that a Durham County Government program, service or activity is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to Marie Costello-Inserra, Esq., EEO Counsel and ADA Coordinator and/or Brandon Truman, Esq., HR Investigator and ADA Compliance Specialist at their contact information listed above.

Grievances:

This Grievance Procedure herein is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a formal complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in employment practices and policies or the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by Durham County Government.

The complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant 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/designee as soon as possible but no later 180 calendar days after the alleged violation to Marie Costello-Inserra, Esq., EEO Counsel and ADA Coordinator and/or Brandon Truman, Esq., HR Investigator and ADA Compliance Specialist at their contact information listed above.

Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within 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 Durham County Government and after options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

If the response by the ADA Coordinator does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complaint and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision of the ADA coordinator within 15 calendar days after receipt of the response. The appeal must be submitted to Kathy Everett-Perry, Esq., Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Employment Counsel at her contact information listed below: 

Kathy Everett-Perry, Esq.
Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Employment Counsel
Durham County Human Resources
200 East Main Street, 1st Floor
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Office: (919) 560-7900
Email: keverettperry@dconc.gov

Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Employment Counsel will meet the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions.  Within 15 calendar days after the meeting, the Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Employment Counsel will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.

All written complaints, appeals and responses received by the ADA Coordinator or designee, will be retained by the County for at least three years.