Boone County, MO Government

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 provides comprehensive civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.

Who Is Protected Under the ADA?

The ADA protects qualified individuals with disabilities. An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. Under the ADA, a qualified individual with a disability is an individual with a disability who meets the essential eligibility requirements for receipt of services or participation in programs or activities. Whether a particular condition constitutes a disability within the meaning of the ADA requires a case-by-case determination.

What Is Title II of the ADA?

Title II of the ADA requires State and local governments to make their programs and services accessible to persons with disabilities. This requirement extends not only to physical access at government facilities, programs, and events -- but also to policy changes that governmental entities must make to ensure that all people with disabilities can take part in, and benefit from, the programs and services of State and local governments. In addition, governmental entities must ensure effective communication -- including the provision of necessary auxiliary aids and services -- so that individuals with disabilities can participate in civic life. Public entities are not required to take actions that would result in undue financial and administrative burdens. However, they are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures where necessary to avoid discrimination, unless they can demonstrate that doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity being provided.

Boone County ADA Transition Plan Update

One important way to ensure that Title II's requirements are being met is through self-evaluation, which is required by the ADA regulations. Self-evaluation enables local governments to pinpoint the facilities, programs and services that must be modified or relocated to ensure that local governments are complying with the ADA.

Boone County conducted a self-evaluation of programs and access in 1992. An Advisory Committee was formed to assist in this effort. The committee members included representatives from several disability advocacy organizations including Services for Independent Living, Brain Injury Association of Missouri as well as representatives from county Offices and Departments. Support and guidance was provided by the Great Plains ADA Group.

The self-evaluation identified a number of physical bars to access due to the age of the facilities Boone County services were provided through. Fortunately, Boone County was beginning the process of construction of new facilities, including a general government center and so were able to incorporate designs to eliminate access barriers that had previously existed. All subsequent construction, whether new construction or remodeling have been designed to comply with standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Since 1992, Boone County has continued to monitor programs and facilities to ensure that people with disabilities are assured an equal opportunity to participate in the programs and activities offered by Boone County. Boone County welcomes comments, suggestions for improvement or complaints.

Comments, suggestions or complaints can be directed to the Boone County ADA Coordinator, the Boone County Risk Management Specialist. The Boone County ADA Coordinator can be reached by phone at (573) 886-4395 or by email at hr@boonecountymo.org.

ADA Coordinator's Role

Title II of the ADA requires all state or local government entities with 50 or more employees to appoint a responsible person to coordinate the administrative requirements of ADA compliance and to respond to complaints filed by the public. The name and contact information for the responsible person is required to be publicly advertised.

Title II of the ADA stipulates five major administrative duties:

  • Publicize the name and contact information of the designated ADA Coordinator responsible to oversee compliance;
  • Administer and write self-evaluation of the programmatic barriers in services offered by the local government;
  • Establish a complaint/grievance procedure to respond to complaints of noncompliance from the public;
  • Develop a transition plan if structural changes are necessary for achieving program accessibility; and
  • Retain the self-evaluation for three years.

The Boone County ADA Coordinator is the Boone County Risk Management Specialist. The Boone County ADA Coordinator can be reached by phone at (573) 886-4395 or by email at hr@boonecountymo.org.

ADA Grievance Procedure

Provisions of Services and Employment Practices

Boone County has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the U.S. Department of Justice regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with disabilities Act. Title II states, in part, that “no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall, solely by reason of such disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination” in programs or activities sponsored by a public entity.

Complaints should be addressed to: Boone County ADA Coordinator - the Boone County Risk Management Specialist, 613 E. Ash, Rm 102, Columbia, MO 65201. Phone: (573) 886-4395.

See the Grievance Procedure page for more information.