The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), is committed to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all individuals. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) serves as a fundamental pillar in our commitment to serving the diverse needs of our communities. The ADA is a civil rights law enacted to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities. It ensures equal opportunities in various areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to public and private spaces. DSHS wholeheartedly embraces the principles of the ADA. We strive to uphold its mandates by offering accessible services, accommodations, and resources to individuals with disabilities across all our programs and facilities.
Deborah Tigerson - ADA Coordinator:
- Phone: 564-201-0718
- Email: ADACoordinator@dshs.wa.gov
For inquiries, accommodations, or additional information regarding the ADA at DSHS, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support and resources to ensure equal access for all individuals.
NOTICE UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.
Employment: DSHS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.
Effective Communication: DSHS will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in DSHS’s programs, services, and activities, including 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: DSHS 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. For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in DSHS offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.
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 DSHS, should contact the specific DSHS program offering the service or activity as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event. If unable to contact the specific program offering the service or activity, the DSHS-wide ADA Coordinator can assist with routing the request for an accommodation.
The ADA does not require the DSHS to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.
DSHS has published a Nondiscrimination Notice. Complaints that a program, service, or activity of DSHS is not accessible to persons with disabilities may be directed to Deborah Tigerson at Deborah.Tigerson1@dshs.wa.gov or by completing the complaint form provided in the Nondiscrimination Policy.
DSHS will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.