City of Charlotte's Americans with Disability Act Program

INCLUSIVITY IN ACTION.

The City of Charlotte’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program is committed to fostering an inclusive community, empowering residents of all abilities to engage in public spaces, services and programs. We collaborate on city-owned properties and with third-party partners to ensure adherence to the ADA while creating real opportunities for everyone.

Our mission goes beyond just fulfilling legal obligations; it’s about seamlessly integrating accessibility into the daily lives of our residents. We strive to develop a city that advances together through facility upgrades, program improvements and continuous education.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Enacted on July 26, 1990, the ADA is a groundbreaking civil rights law that ensures individuals with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of public life. The law is divided into five titles, each addressing a different area of public life.

The ADA program prioritizes compliance with Title II, ensuring that all city-owned spaces, services and programs are accessible and inclusive.

Title I - Employment

Prohibits private employers, State and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more employees, including State and local governments. It also applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations.

Title II - Public Service

Prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all state and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose districts of state or local governments.

Title III - Public Accommodations

Prohibits private places of public accommodation from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. Examples of public accommodations include privately-owned, leased or operated facilities like hotels, restaurants, retail merchants, doctor’s offices, golf courses, private schools, day care centers, health clubs, sports stadiums, movie theaters, and so on. This title sets the minimum standards for accessibility for alterations and new construction of facilities. It also requires public accommodations to remove barriers in existing buildings where it is easy to do so without much difficulty or expense. This title directs businesses to make "reasonable modifications" to their usual ways of doing things when serving people with disabilities. It also requires that they take steps necessary to communicate effectively with customers with vision, hearing, and speech disabilities. This title is regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Title IV - Telecommunication

Requires telephone and Internet companies to provide a nationwide system of interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services that allows individuals with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate over the telephone. This title also requires closed captioning of federally funded public service announcements. This title is regulated by the Federal Communication Commission.

Title V - Miscellaneous

This title contains a variety of provisions relating to the ADA as a whole, including its relationship to other laws, state immunity, its impact on insurance providers and benefits, prohibition against retaliation and coercion, illegal use of drugs, and attorney’s fees. This title also provides a list of certain conditions that are not to be considered as disabilities.

Community Engagement

Accessibility is a shared commitment, and we believe that collaboration between residents, local government and community partners is key to creating a thriving city. Our ADA initiatives empower residents to champion accessibility in public spaces and city-owned services:

  • Accessibility for all: We prioritize improving city-owned spaces and programs, ensuring everyone has the tools and guidance to enhance quality of life.
  • Community Conversations: We host events that spark critical discussions about equity, accessibility and inclusivity, connecting residents with resources and fostering collective action.
  • Collaborating with Partners: By working with third-party vendors and stakeholders, we ensure that city services, events and programs consistently meet accessibility standards and reflect our shared values.

Training and Workshops

Education and awareness are at the heart of building an accessible city. While our primary audience for training and workshops is within the city organization, our program does assist external partners with accessibility standards and can connect the public to resources that support the rights of individuals with disabilities.

  • ADA Awareness and Compliance Training: We provide comprehensive guidance to city employees to ensure all public programs and spaces are accessible to everyone.
  • Inclusive Design Workshops: These sessions empower city staff with strategies for incorporating universal design principles into public programs, services and facilities.
  • Support for External Organizations: While our primary focus is internal, we are available to assist external partners, vendors and community groups to uphold accessibility standards when needed.

Through these initiatives, we strengthen the social fabric of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, forming an inclusive and welcoming community for everyone.

Accommodations

Grievance Procedure under Title II, The Americans with Disabilities Act

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that public entities adopt and publish grievance procedures to assure the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints. The purpose of this ADA grievance procedure is to resolve as promptly as possible any problems, complaints or conflicts related to the city's ADA compliance without the need for the complainant to resort to other remedies available under the law.

Grievance Procedure Summary

If an individual believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of a disability, they should submit a written complaint containing information about the alleged discrimination, including their name, address and phone number along with the location, date and description of the problem.

The complaint should be submitted as soon as possible but no later than 60 days after the alleged violation to:
CharlotteADA@charlottenc.gov.

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