Americans with Disabilities Act Notice
The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) ensures that employees with disabilities receive equal benefits of employment in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Title I.
DMHAS not discriminate against persons with disabilities in its services, programs, or activities and provides equal access and effective communication to persons receiving services, visitors and guests with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Title II.
Title I: DMHAS does not discriminate based on disability in hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.
Employees and applicants for employment with disabilities needing a reasonable accommodation, or who have a complaint regarding DMHAS compliance with the ADA may contact:
Barbara K. Viadella, Equal Employment Opportunity Manager, Title I ADA Coordinator
DMHAS Affirmative Action Office
171 Bow Lane (Cottage 20) Middletown, CT 06457
860-262-5863 (CT Relay 7-1-1), Fax: 860-262-5197 email: Barbara.Viadella@ct.gov
Title II: People receiving services from DMHAS as well as visitors and guests with disabilities are considered qualified persons with disabilities under the ADA Title II who are provided effective communication and equal access to DMHAS programs, services or activities with no surcharge. Additionally, persons with disabilities using service animals are welcomed in public areas of DMHAS facilities.
Qualified persons with disabilities who need equal access submit a written request for reasonable modifications of programs, services and activities to the designee of the DMHAS facility providing those programs, services and activities.
Effective Communication: DMHAS provides appropriate aids and services including qualified sign language interpreters and other forms of alternative communication to ensure effective communication for persons with disabilities. Requests may be made to the contact person for the DMHAS facility providing a service, program or activity the communication is needed for.
DMHAS provides Deaf, Deaf-blind or Hard of Hearing Services (DHOH) at all DMHAS state-operated facilities with each facility designating a contact person who is trained and educated on addressing communication of persons who are Deaf, Deaf-blind or Hard of Hearing.
Education and Training: Requests for reasonable accommodation and effective communication for DMHAS education and training are made to DMHAS Workforce Development or the facility’s training manager. Requests for interpreters should be made within ten days of the training to allow time to schedule the interpreter.
The ADA does not require DMHAS to take action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its services, programs or activities, impose an undue financial or administrative burden or which poses a direct threat to the health or safety of the person or others. The ADA does not require DMHAS to provide persons with disabilities personal or individually prescribed devices such as wheelchairs, prescription eyeglasses or hearing aids or provide services of a personal nature.
Complaints: Persons with disabilities receiving services from DMHAS who believe a DMHAS service, program or activity is not equally accessible to persons with disabilities as other persons may submit a written grievance to the facility Client Rights Officer under the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure (http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/crg).
Guests or visitors with disabilities may submit written complaints a DMHAS service, program or activity is not equally accessible to persons with disabilities to the DMHAS ADA Title II Coordinator:
William Pierce, Client Rights and Grievance Specialist, Title II ADA Coordinator
DMHAS Office of the Commissioner
410 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06134
860-418-7000 (CT Relay 7-1-1) Fax: 860-418-6786, email: William.Pierce@ct.gov
Complaints about DMHAS compliance with the ADA may be submitted to the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section NYAV, 950 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, D.C 20530 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY). www.ada.gov/complaint/
This notice is available upon request in other languages and formats
Revised 11/26/2021