The mission of the city’s ADA Coordinator is to ensure that all programs, services, and activities of the City of Kingsport are accessible, and that practical use by individuals with disabilities, regardless of whether they are residents or visitors to our city, is not restricted or hindered in violation of standards relating to individuals with disabilities. Disability, as defined by the ADA, is a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more of major life activities. The City of Kingsport and its ADA Coordinator helps all city departments and agencies by providing support services toward ensuring the accessibility of programs and activities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Major functions of the ADA Coordinator is assisting in construction/alteration projects for ADA compliance reviews and providing informational assistance.

ADA Accommodation
It is both the policy and responsibility of the City of Kingsport to ensure that its programs, services, and activities are accessible, and that practical use by all people, regardless of whether they are residents or visitors, is not restricted or hindered in violation of standards relating to individuals with disabilities. ADA 2019 Self Evaluation and Transition Plan

City of Kingsport ADA Coordinator
The City of Kingsport has a designated an ADA Coordinator. This coordinator is the city’s liaison with all city departments and agencies and the public concerning ADA matters and requests for accommodations. Additionally, they are responsible for overseeing their respective department’s compliance with the ADA. The ADA Coordinator, Ryan McReynolds, for the city is located at City of Kingsport 415 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.
Phone No: (423) 229-9401 ext. 5
Email: ADAcontact@KingsportTN.gov

Request ADA Accommodation
A request for accommodation must:

• be submitted in writing to the ADA Coordinator by using the Request for Accommodation and Request for Barrier Removal form;
• include the name, address, and telephone number of the requesting party;
• specify the location of the program, service, activity or facility where accommodation is requested; and
• describe why accommodation is needed.

A completed ADA Accommodation Request Form may be used to make a request. If an alternative means of filing a request is necessary, contact the ADA Coordinator at: ADAcontact@KingsportTN.gov or call: (423) 229-9401 ext. 5. The requesting party should receive a response within 15 calendar days after a request is received by the ADA Coordinator. If the response by the ADA Coordinator does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the individual making the request may file a formal grievance. Refer to Accessible Public Communication for information about requesting auxiliary aids or services necessary to afford an individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, any city program, service, or activity.

Accessible Public Communication
It is the policy of the City of Kingsport to ensure that each program, service, and activity communications with participants and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. Toward that end, the city will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services as necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, any city program, service, or activity.

• qualified interpreters,
• note takers,
• transcription services,
• written materials,
• telephone handset amplifiers,
• assistive listening devices,
• assistive listening systems,
• telephones compatible with hearing aids,
• closed caption decoders,
• open and closed captioning,
• telecommunications devices for deaf person (TDDs),
• video text displays, or
• other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials alternatively available.

• qualified readers,
• taped texts,
• audio recordings,
• Braille materials,
• large print materials, or
• other effective methods of making visually delivered materials alternatively available.

Disability — Disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such an individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.

Qualified Interpreter — A qualified interpreter means an interpreter who is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary.

Request Accessible Public Communication (auxiliary aid/service) Accessible public communication (auxiliary aid/service) requests must be made:

• in advance to enable time to fulfill the request (while the city will make good faith efforts to fulfill all accommodation requests, those relating to public meetings and hearings should be submitted at least one week in advance, and those relating to on-going services and programs should be submitted at least 48 hours in advance); and
• to the city ADA Coordinator in advance of the meeting, hearing, service, or activity at ADAcontact@KingsportTN.gov or (423) 229-9401 ext. 5.

In determining what type of auxiliary aid or service is necessary, the city will give primary consideration to the requests of the individual with disabilities (other considerations include whether another effective means of communication is available, means of communication would result in a fundamental alteration in the service, program, or activity; means of communication would result in undue financial burden on taxpayers). As necessary, the ADA coordinator will confer with the requesting party to identify how effective communication can be achieved in the context of the subject program, service or activity, and may ask for technical assistance and information on how to obtain a particular auxiliary aid or service.

City of Kingsport Americans with Disabilities Act Grievance Procedure
Effective December 5, 2016 An individual who has requested a communication aid or service for, or attempted to access, a city service, activity, or program and is dissatisfied or believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of a disability, may file a formal complaint (in accordance with this grievance procedure established to meet the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act).

Step 1 — Written Complaint A complaint must:

• be submitted in writing to the city ADA Coordinator at ADAcontact@KingsportTN.gov or via the grievance online form located here;
• detail the name, address, and telephone number of the complainant; and
• include pertinent information about the alleged discrimination or violation (e.g., location, date, description of the problem).

A completed ADA Grievance Form may be used to document the complaint. If an alternative means filing a request is necessary, contact the ADA Coordinator via ADAcontact@KingsportTN.gov* or call: (423) 229-9401 ext. 5. The complaint should be submitted as soon as possible and must be submitted no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation. *Please note, emails sent to ADAcontact@kingsporttn.gov may be considered public record and subject to the Tennessee Open Records Act.

Step 2 — City of Kingsport ADA Coordinator Review and Determination Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator or designee will offer to meet with the grievant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. This meeting can occur either in person, over the phone, electronically, or in any format agreeable to the grievant and ADA Coordinator. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the meeting, the ADA Coordinator or designee will respond in writing, in a format accessible to the grievant, and will explain the position of the city and may offer other options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

Step 3 — Appeal to the City Manager If the response by the ADA Coordinator or designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the grievant or designee may appeal the decision within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the response to the City Manager. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the City Manager or designee will offer to meet with the grievant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. This meeting can occur either in person, over the phone, electronically, or in any format agreeable to the grievant and City Manager. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the meeting, the City Manager or designee will respond in writing, in a format accessible to the grievant, with a final decision of the city regarding the complaint. All written complaints and responses (made or received) will be retained by the City of Kingsport for at least five (5) years. * FOR CITY EMPLOYEES: A complaint by a city employee alleging discrimination on the basis of disability pertaining to employment with the city will be processed pursuant to the Employee Workplace Complaint Procedure approved by Resolution No. 2008-149 and set out in the Kingsport Human Resources Policies and Procedures.