Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Section 504 Grievance Procedure
Policy
It is the policy of the Tennessee Arts Commission that no qualified individual shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of services, programs, or activities of the agency, or be subjected to discrimination.
Any person with a disability, qualified under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), or their designated representative may file a grievance if they believe a violation relating to the ADA or the 1973 Rehabilitation Act has occurred. The grievance should be filed within thirty (30) days of the alleged violation. Grievances are defined as informal, verbal complaints or written complaints that include the information requested below received by the Accessibility Coordinator of the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Individuals can choose to file a grievance with the Tennessee Arts Commission if the organization is a current grantee. This grievance procedure can be used for both informal and formal complaints, and for reviewing complaints against an organization or its subgrantees.
Filing a grievance
To file a grievance, please call, email, or mail the Accessibility Coordinator (see information below) at the Tennessee Arts Commission with the following information:
- Description of the incident
- Date and time of occurrence
- Nature of the alleged violation
- Other specific information related to the incident
If you need additional assistance in filing out the above information, you may delegate another person to file the grievance on your behalf, or ask for assistance from the Tennessee Arts Commission Accessibility Coordinator.
Process
The Accessibility Coordinator will inform the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Executive Director and Associate Director of Operations of the grievance. Next, the Accessibility Coordinator will contact the individual filing the grievance and hold an informal conversation either in person or over the phone to gather the facts. Third, the Accessibility Coordinator will investigate the grievance and prepare a written response indicating findings within 30 days from the date of the filing.
Exceptions
The Executive Director of the Tennessee Arts Commission shall have the authority to grant exception from any part of this policy within the constraints of federal and state law when deemed appropriate.
Appeals
The individual may appeal the results of the findings in writing within 30 days to the Chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission. All appeal decisions made by the Commission are final.
For questions or more information, contact Kim Johnson, Director of Arts Access and Accessibility Coordinator at (615) 532-9797
