Accessibility

The New York State Department of State (DOS) is committed to assuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities. This commitment to equal opportunity extends to providing reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities in all its accommodations, programs and services. To this end, it is the policy of the Department of State to provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities to all Department of State-owned or operated programs and services. This commitment extends not only to physical accessibility at Department of State offices – but to ensuring that all people with disabilities can take part in, and benefit from all Department of State programs and services. Also, the Department of State is committed to providing reasonable auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication with persons with disabilities.

This policy is based on Title II of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act; the New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law, article 15); and all applicable federal regulations and NYS Executive Orders and Memoranda.

The Department of State’s ADA Coordinator/Designee for Reasonable Accommodation (DRA) is:
 

Kenneth Emhardt
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Designee for Reasonable Accommodation (DRA)
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue, Suite 1150
Albany, NY 12231
Phone: (518) 474-2752
Fax: (518) 402-3656
[email protected]
 

The “Notice under the Americans with Disabilities Act” (Appendix A of the Procedures for Implementing Reasonable Accommodation in Programs and Services for Individuals with Disabilities) is available from the DOS website, under Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Procedures, and is posted in public areas at the DOS offices or facilities. The “Grievance Procedures under the Americans with Disabilities Act” (Appendix B of the Procedures for Implementing Reasonable Accommodation in Programs and Services for Individuals with Disabilities) are available from the DOS website, under Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Procedures, or by requesting a copy from the Designee for Reasonable Accommodation (DRA).

Any individual who is unsatisfied with the Department of State’s response to his or her needs as a person with a disability, who is unsatisfied with the accommodation provided by the Department of State, or who has been informally denied a requested accommodation, is entitled to file a formal written complaint with the Department of State’s DRA listed above.

The New York State Department of State strives to make our web site accessible to all visitors. If you are unable to access any information or utilize any of our online services on our web site, please contact us and provide a description of your accessibility issue. Your issue will be referred to the Department of State's accessibility officer and, where feasible, we will provide you with an alternate means of access to the requested material.

A guide to New York State's Web Accessibility Policy which governs all agencies and divisions of New York State Government can be found here.
 

Procedures for Implementing Reasonable Accommodation in Programs and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (pdf)

Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (pdf)

Grievance Procedure Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (pdf)

Americans with Disabilities Act Complaint Form (pdf)