This website is a free, statewide resource network that helps people with disabilities solve problems, navigate the system, and plan for their future. Here is link to the website.

Information about how to get a disability parking certificate can be found at this link, which takes you to the Minnesota Council on Disability website.

Additionally, here is the link to the Application for Disability Parking Certificate. That form should be submitted to any Motor Vehicle Registrar's office or by mail to the address listed on the form.

This grievance procedure is established under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you believe there has been discrimination on the basis of disability in the City of Rochester's services, programs, or activities, you can use this procedure to file a complaint. Employment-related complaints related to disability discrimination are covered by the City's organizational policy on the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act.

Any claims should be submitted no more than 60 days from the date of the alleged discriminatory incident. Complaints outside of 60 days will be reviewed and be considered for this process, but it may be more difficult to effectively investigate your complaint.

You can file this complaint by any of the following options:

1. Filling out the digital Grievance Claim form.
2. Calling 507-328-2030 to reach Chao Mwatela, the City staff coordinating this process. Community members using a TTY can dial 711 for the Minnesota Relay Service to contact Chao. Be ready to give his number (507-328-2029) to the communications assistant if you call 711.
   In-person at City Hall, which is located at 201 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904.
   
   How your complaint will be investigated:
   1. City staff has within 15 calendar days to acknowledge receipt and respond.
   2. An Access Team (based on the nature of the complaint) will meet to discuss your complaint and decide next steps. That Access Team will have within 30 calendar days to respond in writing.
   3. You will receive that written report with a summary of the Access Team's examination of your complaint and recommended next steps.
   4. If you wish to appeal that response, you will have 30 calendar days from the date the response was sent. Your response should include a statement of why you are not satisfied with the Access Team's report.

The following sources outline best practices for conducting accessible and inclusive meetings:

• Creating Accessible and Inclusive Meetings or Events from the University of Minnesota Disability Resource Center
• Accessibility Meetings, Events, and Conferences Guide from ADA National Network

Community members looking for specific disability services and supports (such as a Community Alternatives for Disability Inclusion waiver) should contact the intake team at Olmsted County at (507) 328-6519. More information about this process can be found at this link, which will take you to the Olmsted County website.

The City seeks to offer necessary aids and services for effective communication with community members who have hearing, sight, or speech disabilities for City events, programs, or services, unless doing so significantly changes City programs or operations or is too difficult or expensive to provide.

You can submit a request for accommodations:

1. Via the Reasonable Accommodations Form
2. Calling 507-328-2030 to reach Chao Mwatela, the City staff coordinating this process. Community members using a TTY can dial 711 for the Minnesota Relay Service to contact Chao. Be ready to give his number (507-328-2029) to the communications assistant if you call 711.
3. In-person at City Hall, which is located at 201 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904.

Each accommodation has a specific turnaround time, which you can view once you select it on the form. Please make requests as early as possible before the scheduled event.

We'll try our best to meet requests received without enough advance notice, but full accommodation may not be possible.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.

This information is from the ada.gov. For more information about your rights under the ADA and what the law covers, please visit this link.

A service animal is a dog -- or, in rare cases, a miniature horse -- that is specially trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. A service animal might guide an individual with vision impairment, detect seizures, or keep individuals calm during a panic attack.

An emotional support animal – sometimes called an “ESA” or “companion animal” -- can be any type of animal that senses an event or helps alleviate symptoms of a disability. ESAs commonly support people who have anxiety, depression, and many other disabilities. 

This information is from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. For more details on the laws regarding service animals and emotional support animals in housing, employment, and public places, please visit this link.