City corrects failure to help learning-disabled residents in filing paperwork
THURSDAY, July 21 — Following a complaint city employees failed to assist a person with learning disabilities fill out paperwork for a Freedom of Information Act request, the city is working on …
Citizen complaint leads to reform
SATURDAY, July 22 — Following a complaint that city employees at City Hall failed to assist a person with learning disabilities fill out paperwork, the city is working on revamping its Americans with Disabilities Act compliance policies and procedures.
The issue arose when Greg Pratt sought to file a Freedom of Information Act request. He was seeking documents related to a sewage spill he had witnessed in Hunters Ridge Park. Pratt has a learning disability and needed assistance in filling out the required paperwork.
Officials from the city were unable to immediately identify the person assigned to assist a person with a disability seeking assistance in filling out paperwork.
Pratt eventually received assistance from the City Clerk’s Office in filing his request, Scott Bean, communications director for the Mayor’s Office, said in a written statement.
“It was really frustrating,” Pratt said. “They are supposed to have someone available.”
According to the ADA.gov website, the law “requires that State and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities.”
In reviewing the situation at City Pulse’s request, Bean said the city discovered there was no process in place to assist visitors with disabilities, as required under the act.
“We also became aware that the City did not have a clear indication of who would serve the public with ADA questions,” Bean said in a written statement. “The City is moving quickly to make it clear, with a public notice posted in the City Hall lobby and on the website, who serves as the public ADA Coordinator to avoid an issue like this in the future and help all residents ensure they have access to City government resources.”
The city has since posted temporary signs notifying where persons with disability can go for assistance. The Human Relations and Community Services Department located on the fourth floor of City Hall has been assigned the duty to assist people with disabilities. It can be reached in advance at (517) -483-4477.
