The Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit, VAWA-funded victim assistance providers shall comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794, as implemented by 45 C.F.R. Part 84 (hereinafter referred to as Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12131, as implemented by 28 C.F.R. Part 35 (hereinafter referred to as ADA).
This plan is available in alternative formats at the request of staff and participants. This plan will be disseminated to persons and agencies working with people living with a disability and Limited English Proficient and will be posted on website of the Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Single Point of Contact
The Single Point of Contact, Erin McCaulley, will ensure effective communication with Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing customers or companions in accordance with Section 504 and the ADA. The Single Point of Contact shall ensure that Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funded employees are aware of the requirements, roles, responsibilities, and contact points associated with compliance with Section 504 and the ADA.
Provision of Auxiliary Aids and Services
The Office of the State Attorney, VAWA-funded victim assistance providers will at all times recognize that the customer or companion’s preference is the primary consideration in determining what auxiliary aids or services to provide. If communication through a specific auxiliary aid or service is deemed to be ineffective, staff will ask the customer or companion to determine a more effective auxiliary aid or service for communication. Documentation shall be made in the customer’s file regarding the attempt to improve the effectiveness of auxiliary aids and services.
If a participant or companion is Deaf or hard of hearing, The Office of the State Attorney, VAWA-funded staff shall obtain auxiliary aids according to the communication assessment and requested for services. All ASL interpreters’ certifications shall be verified.
VAWA-funded staff that is unfamiliar with the auxiliary aid or service requested shall contact their Single Point of Contact (SPOC), 504/ADA Coordinator (Civil Rights Officer) or their Supervisor, for assistance in locating appropriate resources to ensure effective communication with clients, customers and companions.
Provision of Interpreters in a Timely Manner
Office of the State Attorney VAWA-funded staff shall provide interpreters for customers and companions who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing in a timely manner in accordance to the following standards:
- Non-Scheduled Interpreter Requests: For any emergency situation that is not a scheduled appointment, staff shall make an interpreter available as soon as possible, but in no case later than two (2) hours from the time the customer or companion or staff requests an interpreter, whichever is earlier. If the situation is not an emergency, staff shall offer to schedule an appointment (and provide an interpreter where necessary for effective communication) as convenient to the customer or companion, but at least by the next business day.
- Scheduled Interpreter Requests: For scheduled events, VAWA-funded staff shall make a qualified interpreter available at the time of the scheduled appointment. If an interpreter fails to appear for the scheduled appointment, staff shall take whatever additional actions are necessary to make a qualified interpreter available to the customer or companion who is deaf or hard-of-hearing as soon as possible, but in no case later than two (2) hours after the scheduled appointment or as convenient to the customer or companion.
Auxiliary Aids Documentation
Office of the State Attorney VAWA-funded staff shall document the customer or companion’s preferred method of communication and any requested auxiliary aids and services provided in the customer’s program file. Documents and forms evidencing when and how Office of the State Attorney VAWA-funded staff provided auxiliary aids and services to customers or companions shall be retained within the customer’s corresponding file for seven years.
Forms include but are not limited:
- Customer or Companion Assessment and Assessment and Auxiliary Aid and Service Record
- Customer or Companion Request for Free Communication Assistance or Waiver
- Customer or Companion Feedback form
- Auxiliary Aid Service Record Monthly Summary Report
This documentation will continue to be kept for record keeping with the SPOC.
Denied Auxiliary Requests
Documentation, with supporting justification, must also be made if any request was not honored. The Office of the State Attorney Victim Services Director is the only person that can deny auxiliary aid requests made by a customer or companion. If a VAWA-funded staff member is not familiar with an auxiliary aid request, please contact the SPOC for information as well as ask the customer for any information that you may need to secure this aid, but reiterate that the cost of any auxiliary aid is the responsibility of the agency and not the participant.
Referrals
If customers or companions are referred to other agencies, the provider must ensure that the receiving agency is notified of the customer or companion’s preferred method of communication and any auxiliary aid or service needs. In order to accommodate this, the Office of the State Attorney VAWA-funded staff will ensure that the referral is desired by the participant.
Customer Feedback Form
The provider shall distribute Customer/Companion Feedback Forms to customers or companions that are Deaf or hard of hearing and provide assistance in completing the forms if requested by the customer or companion. The original Customer/Companion Feedback Form shall be mailed to DCF, Office of Civil Rights, 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Building 1, Room110, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700 by the participant or if requested, by the Office of the State Attorney. A copy of the Customer Feedback Form shall not be kept in the file.
Documentation/Record Retention
Records relating to auxiliary aids and services provided shall be retained by each local office and the original document retained in the client or customer’s file or records. All final requests for accommodations, along with relevant documentation, will be forwarded to the designated 504/ADA Coordinator.
Signage
The Single-Point-of-Contact will ensure that conspicuous Notices which provide information about the availability of appropriate auxiliary aids and services at no-cost to the deaf or hard-of-hearing customers or companions are posted near where people enter or are admitted within the Office of the State Attorney’s location. The SPOC’s name and contact information should be on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Poster as well at the name and contact information for the ADA 504 Coordinator.
The approved Notices can be downloaded through the Internet at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us
HHS Reports
The Office of the State Attorney shall submit HHS Reports monthly, no later than the 3rd business day of each month, to the FCADV Contract Manager.
Event Accommodations
The Office of the State Attorney shall ensure accessibility to meetings, conferences and required appearances to persons served by VAWA-funded staff with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and Deaf or hard of hearing. Participants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the assigned VAWA-funded victim assistance provider. Notification must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
Staff Training
The VAWA-funded staff shall receive training on how to provide auxiliary aids and services for persons with disabilities and limited English proficiency (LEP) within 60 days of commencing employment. The Office of the State Attorney’s VAWA-funded staff shall receive an annual refresher training on auxiliary aids and services for persons with disabilities and limited English proficiency (LEP). The Office of the State Attorney’s VAWA-funded staff shall be trained to use the TTY phone and video relay call. Training documentation shall be maintained in each employee’s training file.
Auxiliary Aid Resources
Florida Video Relay: 7-1-1
Through the Florida Relay Service, people who use specialized telephone equipment can communicate with people who use standard telephone equipment. To call Florida Relay, dial 7-1-1, or use the appropriate toll free numbers below
- 1-800-955-8771 (TTY)
- 1-800-955-8770 (Voice)
- 1-877-955-8773 (Spanish)
- 1-877-955-8707 (French Creole)
Video Remote Interpreting
Through a video remote interpreter people can use an interpreter via technology to communicate with a participant in stead of an in person interpreter. This is a good resource for emergency situations with limited time to get an in person interpreter as well as if there are few local community resources for certified interpreters. Below is the phone number for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf which will provide contact information for certified video remote interpreting.
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: (703) 838-0030 (Video Remote Interpreters)
CART-Captioning Real Time and Providers
Captioning (Real Time). This is the simultaneous conversion of spoken words to text, through computer-assisted transcription or court reporting, and displaying that text on a video screen. This communication service is beneficial to individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing that do not use sign language or for whom assistive listening devices and systems are ineffective.
Kaptions4U, LLC Brandi Kent, RPR, CBC, CRR, CCP 352-516-8310
Tanya Ward English, CRR-CCP-CBC tanya@floridarealtime.com CAPTION CREW Florida Realtime Reporting 954.767.6363
Marianne E. Sayers, RPR, CRR Fort Myers Court Reporting 2231 First Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 941-334-1411 941-334-1476 fax
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: (703) 838-0030
Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf www.fridcentral.org
Certified Sign Language Interpreters:
(703) 838-0030
www.fridcentral.org
For Limited English Speaking Customers:
- Before Call: Know the language that is needed. Be prepared to brief the interpreter about the nature of the call before he/she speaks to your Limited English Speaker.
- How to locate a Foreign Language Interpreter: Contact an on staff Victim Advocate who is fluent in the language requested. If we do not have a Victim Advocate on staff that can meet the needs of the victim, contact the Fiscal Administrator – Karen Calvert at 6-1282 to locate a certified interpreter in the language requested. In the event, one is not readily known or available; contact the appropriate Consulate’s office for assistance in locating a certified interpreter in the language requested.
- During the Call: Speak in short phrases or sentences. Avoid slang, jargon, and technical terms. Check for understanding from you Limited English Speaker throughout the call. If needed, rephrase the questions or statements until understood. When speaking to the interpreter, do not give and/or ask too much information at one time. Ask questions in the first person.
- Ending the Call: Be sure the Limited English Speaker and Interpreter know that the call is ending.
Customer Complaints
If you believe you were wrongfully denied access to services or discriminated against:
- Inform the person who denied access to services that you believe they wrongfully denied you services and why you believe that is the case.
- Ask to speak to a manager, immediately.
- You may submit your complaint/grievance in writing or verbally. Direct your concern to the Advocate Services Manager or Director of Victims Services. Include the following information:
- What service were you denied?
- What were you told was the reason you were denied service?
- What person denied you services?
- What was the date you were denied service?
In addition to the above actions, discrimination complaints may also be filed externally with the state and federal government.
Assistant Staff Director for Civil Rights
1317 Winewood Boulevard
Building 1, Room 110
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700
850.487.1901
Executive Director
Florida Commission on Human Relations
2009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301-4857
850.488.7082
US Department of Health & Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Atlanta Federal Center, Suite 3B70
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-8909
404.562.7881
US Department of Justice
Coordination & Review Section
Civil Rights Division
P.O. Box 66118
Washington, DC 20035-6118
202.514.0301
