City of Aiken ADA Notice

In accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the City will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in the City’s employment, services, programs, or activities.

Employment: The City 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 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Effective Communication: The City will generally, upon request, provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in alternative formats, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures: The City will make all reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all City programs, services, and activities. For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in City offices, even where pets are generally prohibited. The City will not impose unnecessary eligibility standards or rules that deny individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in service, programs or activities.

Surcharges: The City 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.

Architectural Barriers: The City will take all required action to provide access to its building and facilities to individuals with disabilities.

Fundamental Alterations/Undue Burden: The ADA does not require the City to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Requesting an Accommodation: Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a City program, service, or activity, should contact the City Manager’s Office at 803-642-7654 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.

Complaints: Complaints that a City program, service, activity, or facility is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to the City Manager’s Office.