A coalition is being formed between the City of Frankfort and the Clinton County government to assist local businesses, citizens and government entities with ADA accessibility and compliance issues within the county.
A public meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. in the training room at the Frankfort Police station at 1740 W. State Road 28 in Frankfort for citizens and businesses to receive more information about Title VI and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The county released an official public notice regarding the meeting and the coalition.
“The purpose of this public meeting is to establish an advocacy group to talk with citizens, local businesses and municipalities about ADA compliance,” the notice reads. “Anyone and everyone interested is welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting.”
The notice also includes information regarding Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. According to the notice, Clinton County government entities are expected to uphold the notion that “no person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
The notice states that the Clinton County Government will continue to abide by the parameters of Title VI, barring any discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.
The notice encouraged any person or organization to file a complaint with the Clinton County Title VI Coordinator, Jerri Sexton, if they believe that they have experienced discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.
The notice mainly focuses on the ADA, specifically Title II of the Act, stating that “Clinton County Government will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs or activities.”
The notice outlines that the Clinton County Government will not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices, will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services to ensure that community members may participate equally in county programs, services and activities and will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities will have an equal opportunity to enjoy the programs, services and activities.
The notice states that persons who require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a modification of policies should contact the program, service or activity coordinator at least 48 hours before the event.
“The ADA does not require the county to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services or impose an undue financial or administrative burden,” the notice reads. “Complaints that a program, service or activity of Clinton County Government is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to (Jerri Sexton, ADA/Title VI Coordinator).”
For more information or to file a report, contact Jerri Sexton at 765-659-6309 or jsexton@clintonco.com.