Public Access Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), the County of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Employment:  The County of Santa Clara 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 1 of the ADA.

Effective Communication:  The County of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in the County’s programs, services and activities.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures:  The County of Santa Clara 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 County 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 the County, should contact the Coordinator of Programs for the Disabled, Equal Opportunity Department, 2310 N. First St., Ste. 101, San Jose, CA 95131 (408) 299-5865, as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require the County of Santa Clara to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Complaints that a program, service or activity of the County of Santa Clara is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to the Coordinator of Programs for the Disabled, Equal Opportunity Department, 2310 N. First St., Ste. 101, San Jose, CA 95131 (408) 299-5865.

The County of Santa Clara 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.