610 North Hooper
Kingsford, MI 49802
(906) 774-5718
Toll Free: (866) 774-5718
trico@tricoopp.com
Vocational Rehabilitation
Skill Building Services
Serving Dickinson and Iron Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Marinette and Florence Counties in Wisconsin
TRICO Opportunities, Incorporated
ADA Transportation Policy
Page 1 of 6
Manual: Administrative Reviewed: 12/16/24
Section: HR Revised: 5/17/24
Board Approval: 12/16/24 Revisions to Policy Language: _x_yes __ no
Other Revisions: _x_ Language
___ Content
APPLIES TO: All employees and Program Participants of TRICO Opportunities, Incorporated (TRICO).
ADA Transportation Policy:
Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides that no entity shall discriminate against an individual with a disability in connection with the provision of transportation services. The law sets forth specific requirements for vehicle and facility accessibility and the provision of service. TRICO is committed to providing safe and reliable transportation to all people without discrimination based on disabilities.
Details:
< >The TRICO Transportation Coordinator, the TRICO Board of Directors and/or the Executive Director will respond within 30-days of receiving a transportation-related complaint regarding discrimination against an individual under the ADA and will work to resolve the issue with the complainant as quickly as possible. This may involve legal assistance and/or mediation. The TRICO Executive Director or Transportation Coordinator will document all of the processes involved, including the resolution achieved, and will notify the MDOT Project Manager of the complaint and the resolution. TRICO will keep the complaint and all related documents on file for at least one year and will keep a summary of all complaints filed for at least five years. Records will be made available to MDOT upon request. ADA Transportation complaints must include full name, address, telephone numbers, and names of contact persons; the name(s) of the party discriminated against (if known); the name of the person believed to have committed the discrimination; a brief description of the acts of discrimination and the date(s) they occurred; other information believed necessary to support the complaint, including copies (not originals) of relevant documents; and information regarding effective communication such as written communications in a specific format (e.g., large print, Braille, electronic documents). ADA Transportation Complaints shall use the attached complaint form (Attachment A).ADA Transportation Complaints can be filed by email by including all of the information listed above, either in the body of the email or in an attachment, along with any relevant documents sent to the TRICO email address, to the attention of the Executive Director or Transportation Coordinator. The complainant will receive a reply email confirming the complaint has been received within 48 business hours. The complainant will be urged to keep a copy of the complaint email and the reply email for their records. The complainant will also be urged to call the TRICO Transportation Coordinator at 906-774-5718, ext. 205 if no reply email is received.The attached notice (re: page 5) will be placed in all vehicles and posted in all TRICO facilities. After a complaint is received, the Executive Director or the Transportation Coordinator will inform the complainant of action taken, which may include: requesting additional information or copies of relevant documents; working with the complainant to resolve the issue; referring the complaint for possible resolution through an ADA Mediation Program; or referring the complaint to another federal agency with responsibility for the types of issues raised.The complainant can contact TRICO at any reasonable time, by telephone, fax, email, or in writing, to inquire about the status of the ADA Transportation complaint.Items permitted to be carried in the vehicle(s) are those necessary for safety, first aid, emergency warnings, communications, and each individual's personal requirements for attending programming such as lunchboxes or lunch bags, unbreakable drinking containers, extra clothing, etc.Program Participants may have reading materials, pillows (if room permits) and other soft objects while being transported; however, for safety reasons, Program Participants will not be permitted to be holding hard or sharp objects/utensils during transporting.
Individuals providing documentation from professional personnel (physicians, O.T.’s P.T.’s, etc.) may utilize oxygen supplying apparatuses or tanks while being transported; and may have present a service animal.
Cross-reference: Americans with Disabilities Act Policy
Approved by Bd. Of Directors 02/2015; Revised 4/6/15; Revised, name changed from “Transportation ADA Compliant Policy”, no. 9 added 11/17/16. Revised format, language and name change from Transportation ADA Policy” 3/28/17. Updated posting 9/3/20. Minor language changes 4/20/21. Board approved 8/23/21. Minor (name) change 5/17/24 board approved 12/16/24
Attachment A
Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Discrimination Complaint Form
Instructions: Please fill out this form completely, sign and mail, fax, or email to:
TRICO Opportunities, Inc.
Attention: Holly Sharrow, Transportation Coordinator
610 N. Hooper
Kingsford, MI 49802
Phone: 906-774-5718
Fax: 906-774-5746
Email: Holly Sharrow at holly@tricoopp.com (use Attention Transportation Coordinator in subject line)
Complainant Name: ________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code: ____________________________________________________________
Telephone: Home: _______________________________
Business: ____________________________
Person Discriminated Against (if other than the complainant): ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________
City, State and Zip Code: _____________________________________________________________
Telephone: Home: _______________________________
Business: ____________________________
When did the discrimination occur? Date: ____________________________________
Describe the acts of discrimination providing the name(s) where possible of the individuals who discriminated:
Signature: _________________________________________
Date: _____________________________________________
This notice to be posted in all TRICO vehicles and facilities. Alternative formats and language translations for this document are available on request.
TRICO Opportunities, Inc.
Procedure to File a Transportation Complaint Under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
If you believe you, or another person has been discriminated against under Title II and III of the American Disability Act of 1990 by TRICO Opportunities, Inc. or one of our employees, you can file a complaint by mail, fax, or email at:
TRICO Opportunities, Inc.
Attention Transportation Coordinator
610 N. Hooper
Kingsford, MI 49802
Phone: 906-774-5718
Fax: 906-774-5746
Email: holly@tricoopp.com (use Attention Transportation Coordinator in subject line)
Before filing your complaint, you may contact the TRICO Transportation Coordinator to discuss your concerns. The Transportation Coordinator can look into the issue and try to come up with an acceptable resolution to the situation.
You can file a complaint against TRICO using the following procedures:
< >File a written complaint with the Executive Director or Transportation Coordinator as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days after the alleged violation.The written complaint should be submitted by the complainant and/or designee.Alternative means of filing complaints – such as a personal interview or a tape recording – will be made available on request by people with disabilities.The written complaint should contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, and description of the problem.Within 15 calendar days after receiving the complaint, the Executive Director or Transportation Coordinator will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions.Within 15 calendar days of the meeting, the Executive Director or Transportation Coordinator will respond in writing or by other appropriate accessible format. The response will explain the position of TRICO and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.If the response by TRICO does not resolve the issue, the complainant and/or designee may appeal the decision within 15 calendar days after receiving the response to the Federal Transit Administration Office for Civil Rights.All written documents in the process will be retained by TRICO for at least 1 year.For FY ADA Transportation Complaint Information< >You must retain copies of complaints for a least one year and a summary of all complaints for at least five years.List any active lawsuits or complaints filed within the last year naming the applicant that alleges discrimination based on Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which provides that no entity shall discriminate against an individual with a disability in connection with the provision of transportation service. The law sets forth specific requirements for vehicle and facility accessibility and the provision of service, including access to fixed route bus and complementary paratransit service. Include the status and resolution of any complaints.If none, so state: None.Summarize all transportation ADA compliance review activities conducted with regard to your transportation program. The summary should include the purpose or reason for the review, the name of the agency or organization that performed the review, the findings and recommendations of the review and a report on the status and/or disposition of such findings and recommendations.If none, so state: None.
Agency Response:
Have any changes been made to your ADA Transportation Policy? If so, please provide an explanation of changes.