Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Blue ADA LogoThe Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) provides reasonable accommodations to make sure people with disabilities are able to communicate with and have equal access to DMHAS programs and services under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 
 
About the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Under the ADA, a person with a disability is someone who:
  • Has a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity (over a long period of time),
  • Has a record of the impairment, or  
  • Is regarded as having the impairment.
A person does not need to receive Social Security Disability to be covered by the ADA.

A qualified person with disabilities is someone who is eligible for services or taking part in programs offered by a Title II entity with or without his/her disability. A qualified person with a disability cannot be denied the chance to participate in services, programs or activities except when there are safety issues or participation would change the program.
 
The ADA is made of of 5 ‘Titles’:
Title I: Employment
Title II: Governmental Entities (Federal, State and Local)
Title III: Places of Public Accommodation
Title IV: Transportation
Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions (such as attorney fees)
For more information about the ADA, go to United States Department of Justice Website at www.ADA.gov.

ADA Title I - DMHAS Employees
Employees of DMHAS are covered under ADA Title I.
Contact the Title I ADA Coordinator if:
  • you are a DMHAS employee you have a disability which needs reasonable accommodation, or
  • you are someone applying for employment at DMHAS and you have a disability which needs reasonable accommodation, or 
  • you have a complaint that a service, program or activity of DMHAS is not accessible to persons with disabilities. 
DMHAS Title I ADA Coordinator
Tommy Wilson, Acting EEO Director
DMHAS Affirmative Action Office
171 Bow Lane (Cottage 20) Middletown, CT 
860-262-6886
Fax: 860-262-5197
 
ADA Title II - DMHAS Clients, Patients, Visitors and Guests
Clients/patients visitors and guests of DMHAS facilities, programs and services are covered under ADA Title II. Providers contracted by DMHAS are Title III entities.
DMHAS Title II ADA Coordinator
William Pierce, Client Rights and Grievance Specialist
DMHAS Office of the Commissioner
410 Capitol Avenue, 4th Floor PO Box 341431 
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone  860-418-7000
Fax: 860-418-6691
Toll Free TTY: 888-621-3551 (Relay 7-1-1)
 
Clients, patients, guests or visitors of DMHAS facilities or programs who need equal access to a program or service can speak to and/or submit a written request for a reasonable accommodation to the:
  • DMHAS staff person or clinician holding the activity or program, or
  • DMHAS facility’s Client Rights Officer (CRO). The CRO’s name and contact number is posted in the lobby or other prominent location in every facility, or
  • DMHAS facility’s chief executive officer or designee.
A written request should be sent to one of the above individuals and include: 
  1. Your name, address and contact information,
  2. Reason for the request (such as the nature of your disability),
  3. When and where the accommodation is needed, and 
  4. Your suggestion on how to address your request.
If you ask for a disability-related reasonable accommodation, you may be asked questions that are:
  • Necessary for identifying the need for a disability-related accommodation, or
  • Used to provide equal access to services. 
You do not have to answer the questions. Your services will not be affected if you do not answer the questions. You will not be discriminated against because of your request for a disability-related accommodation, your response to questions or of you do not answer questions.  
 
You should make your request as far ahead of time as possible. This will allow for time to review your request and make arrangements. You should make your request at least 10 days before your scheduled activity or program. The 10-day period may be waived by the facility or program in urgent cases.

Requests can be for specific equipment and services, such as assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, printed material in alternate formats, or modifications to procedures and policies.  DMHAS is not required to address requests for personal use items (such as hearing aids or wheelchairs for your home).
If you are a client or patient and your request is denied, you may submit a written complaint under the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure.  If you are not a client or patient you should contact the DMHAS ADA Title II Coordinator. 

Requesting Effective Communication
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHOH)
DMHAS facilities offer Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHOH) to clients who are deaf or hard of hearing. For information, contact the DMHAS Office of Multicultural Health Care Equity (OMHE) at 860-418-6707.
Interpreter Services
Sign language interpreter services outside of DMHAS facilities and programs are arranged by calling 2-1-1 Infoline. The Connecticut Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHOH) has a list of interpreters on its website at http://www.dhoh.ct.gov/dhoh/cwp/view.asp?a=2684&q=334502.
Service Animals are defined as dogs specifically trained to work for or provide a task to the person with a disability using the animal. Title II and Title III entities must allow service animals in all public locations unless:
  • It can be demonstrated the service animal would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity
  • The animal poses risk of safety or health
  • The animal is not under control of the person with disability handling it
The person using a service animal does not need to prove the animal is a service animal. The person cannot be asked about the nature of his/her disability.
 
Title II and Title III entities are allowed to ask an animal’s user two questions:
  1. Is the animal a service animal required for the person’s disability?
  2. What is the task the animal is specifically trained to accomplish?
Service animals may go anywhere the public is allowed to go. They cannot be denied access to a public place due to other people’s concerns, fears, allergies or disabilities.

Even though a person may use a service animal while in the hsopital, it is the patient’s responsibility to care for and supervise the animal. 
Under Connecticut Law, all dogs including service animals must be licensed in the town or city they live in.
 
A patient or client with an ADA-related complaint can make a complaint under the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure.
  • Complaints are made in writing to the facility’s Client Rights Officer (CRO) or designee within 45 calendar days of the action the complaint is about. The CRO’s name and contact number is posted in the lobby or other prominent location in every facility.
  • The facility has 21 calendar days to address the complaint either with an informal resolution issued by the CRO or a Formal Decision made by the facility's Chief Executive Official or designee.   
  • Clients making a complaint have 15 business days to send a written request for a Commissioner’s Review after getting the facility's “Formal Decision”. 
Making an ADA-related complaint under the DMHAS Client Grievance Procedure does not prevent you from seeking legal action or other remedies. You may also wish to contact:
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Civil Rights Divison, Disability Rights Section NYAV
Washington, DC 20530 
1-800-514-0301
Fax: 202-307-1197
ADA complaints made by guests or visitors who are qualified persons with disabilities and are not clients, patients or DMHAS employees should be made in writing to: 
DMHAS Title II ADA Coordinator
William Pierce, Client Rights and Grievance Specialist
DMHAS Office of the Commissioner
410 Capitol Avenue, 4th Floor PO Box 341431 
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone  860-418-7000
Fax: 860-418-6691
Toll Free TTY: 888-621-3551 (Relay 7-1-1)
 
 
 
 
DMHAS Resources
Statewide Advocacy Programs 
ADA Resources
Contact
For more information contact:
William Pierce, Client Rights and Grievance Specialist
DMHAS Office of the Commissioner
410 Capitol Avenue, 4th Floor
PO Box 341431
Hartford, CT 06134
860-418-7000
william.pierce@ct.gov 
TTY (toll free): 888-621-3551 (Relay 7-1-1)
Fax: 860-418-6691