Division of Disability Rights

As one of the most accessible cities, the Denver Division of Disability Rights (DDDR) is an integral division of the Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that provides people with disabilities equal access to employment, state and local government programs, goods and services. The Denver Division of Disability Rights coordinates the City and County of Denver’s efforts to ensure compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our role is to ensure that all City services and programs are accessible to people with disabilities.

Check out how some of this ongoing work looks like:


DISABILITY ACCEPTANCE

 

HRCP's Division of Disability Rights works with Denver city agencies and advises them on how to comply with and extend disability rights laws, while engaging with the disability community, responding to questions, concerns, and complaints about accessibility of Denver city agencies and their programs. Check out this video and learn more about how we got here and what we can all do to truly be inclusive.


NEW! DISABILITY RESOURCE GUIDE


VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

Join the Division of Disability Rights at its upcoming Red Rocks Accessibility Improvement Project Town Hall. Our Division of Disability Rights Director, Alison Butler, and Venue Director for Denver Arts & Venues, Tad Bowman, will be providing you with information on current Row 1 ticket and shuttle procedures, and updates on ongoing construction. 

Scan the QR Code in the flyer or see the Zoom details below to join the conversation on Wednesday, February 28 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm!

 

Flyer about Town Hall Meeting with the Division of Disability Rights

Zoom Meeting Information:

https://denvergov-org.zoom.us/j/85851183630?pwd=cGRhbmdWb0NsekhzeTRCT25qVTFDZz09

Meeting ID: 858 5118 3630

Passcode: 637266

One tap mobile: +17209289299,,85851183630# US (Denver)

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact us at DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org with 3 business days’ notice.



Accessibility Complaints

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City & County of Denver is required to ensure that our facilities, services, and programs are accessible to people with disabilities and in compliance with the ADA.

If you feel that you have not been able to access the City and County of Denver government because of accessibility issues, or have been discriminated against based on your disability, please provide the details requested below. Your complaint will be investigated and you will be contacted with the results or additional instructions on how to further proceed. This form and process are designed to provide you with the opportunity to quickly and effectively resolve any issue(s) as they relate to the ADA and the City of Denver.

If you need assistance with completing this form because of a disability, please contact the ADA Coordinator at DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org

Submit an Accessibility Complaint Online Here

For non-city government complaints, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/civil-rights-enforcement

Filing a City and County of Denver ADA Grievance/Complaint

City and County of Denver Grievance Procedure under The Americans with Disabilities Act

Basis:
This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended of 2008 (“ADAAA”). In this procedure, reference to the ADA includes the provisions of the 2008 amendments.

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the ADA, the City and County of Denver will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Purpose:
This procedure may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, programs, or activities by the City and County of Denver (“City”). This procedure is designed to provide a complainant with the opportunity to quickly and effectively resolve any issue(s) related to the City’s responsibilities under Title II of the ADA.

The City’s Human Resources Center oversees complaints of disability discrimination related to employment (covered under Title I of the ADA) with the City and County of Denver.

Grievable Offenses:
A grievable offense under this procedure includes, but is not limited to:

  • Any alleged action, intentional or otherwise, by a City employee or contractor that prevents equal access to facilities, services, or programs/activities of the City and County of Denver;
  • Failure of a City employee or contractor to provide reasonable accommodations, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services, upon receiving sufficient notice of an access-related need (unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of a City program or service or impose an undue financial or administrative burden);
  • Any City owned and operated building or facility that does not comply with the applicable ADA Standards for Accessible Design (1991, 2010) and thereby prevents equal access to facilities, services, or programs/activities, including the failure of accessible design features (such as pressure plates, elevators, or accessible parking options) to function appropriately;
  • Failure on the part of a City facility, service, or program/activity to provide equally effective communication to people with disabilities, given reasonable notice of the need to do so, including but not limited to qualified sign language interpreters, alternative format of forms, notices, etc.

Non-grievable Matters:
The following matters are not grievable under this procedure:

  • Any of the offenses listed above, if occurring at facilities, services, or programs not owned or operated by the City;
  • A grievance that has already been addressed, investigated, and/or resolved by this process (see appeal process).
  • Any complaint related to employment with the City.

Procedure:
The complaint should be in writing and contain relevant information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, description of the problem, and the desired remedy sought. An accessible form will be provided to complainants online that will assist with the collection of relevant information. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or email submission, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request. If submitting a complaint through regular mail, email, or fax, submit to address below:

Title II ADA Coordinator
Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships
Denver Division of Disability Rights
201 W. Colfax Avenue, Dept 1102, Denver, CO 80202
DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org
Fax: (720) 913-8470

Upon receiving the complaint, the Denver Division of Disability Rights will determine if it is grievable under this procedure. If non-grievable, complainant will be notified in writing and, if appropriate, provided with resources to address their concerns elsewhere.

If grievable, the Title II ADA Coordinator will respond to the complainant, acknowledging receipt of their complaint and requesting any additional information necessary for the investigation. The Coordinator will contact any parties named or implicated in the content of the complaint to gather additional information. Depending upon the nature of the complaint and parties involved, it may be more appropriately addressed at the level of a department or agency ADA Liaison. If so, the complainant will be informed in writing of the appropriate contact and referred.

After gathering sufficient evidence, the Coordinator, or designated ADA liaison, will respond in writing, in a format accessible to the complainant, explaining the position of the City and offering options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

Accommodations to this procedure may be requested by contacting the Title II ADA Coordinator.

Appeals:
If the resolution does not satisfy the complainant, the complainant may send a written appeal to:

Director, Denver Division of Disability Rights
Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships
201 W. Colfax Avenue, Dept 1102, Denver, CO 80202
DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org
Fax: (720) 913-8470

Appeals must be timely (generally, appeals should be received within 30 calendar days) and relevant to the grounds for appeal. The original decision of the ADA Coordinator will be presumed to have been decided reasonably and appropriately; an appeal must demonstrate substantive error in the original decision, or present new evidence previously unavailable during the original investigation that could substantially impact the resolution. If appeal is not timely and relevant, the original decision will stand.

Record Retention:
All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator, appeals to the Director of the Division of Disability Rights, and responses from this Division will be retained by the City for three years.

Questions, Concerns, and/or Complaints, Non-Grievable:
Questions, concerns, and/or complaints related to employment with the City (covered under Title I of the ADA), should be directed to the Human Resources Center.

 

Filing a Title III (businesses that are not City and County of Denver-related) Complaint

For questions, concerns and/or complaints related to businesses that are not City government (Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act), please contact the Department of Justice Information Line at 1-800-514-0301.

 

Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

The City and County of Denver Grievance Procedure under The Americans with Disabilities Act

Basis:
This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended of 2008 (“ADAAA”). In this procedure, reference to the ADA includes the provisions of the 2008 amendments.

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the ADA, the City and County of Denver will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Purpose:
This procedure may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, programs, or activities by the City and County of Denver (“City”). This procedure is designed to provide a complainant with the opportunity to quickly and effectively resolve any issue(s) related to the City’s responsibilities under Title II of the ADA.

The City’s Human Resources Center oversees complaints of disability discrimination related to employment (covered under Title I of the ADA) with the City and County of Denver.

Grievable Offenses:
A grievable offense under this procedure includes, but is not limited to:

  • Any alleged action, intentional or otherwise, by a City employee or contractor that prevents equal access to facilities, services, or programs/activities of the City and County of Denver;
  • Failure of a City employee or contractor to provide reasonable accommodations, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services, upon receiving sufficient notice of an access-related need (unless doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of a City program or service or impose an undue financial or administrative burden);
  • Any City owned and operated building or facility that does not comply with the applicable ADA Standards for Accessible Design (1991, 2010) and thereby prevents equal access to facilities, services, or programs/activities, including the failure of accessible design features (such as pressure plates, elevators, or accessible parking options) to function appropriately;
  • Failure on the part of a City facility, service, or program/activity to provide equally effective communication to people with disabilities, given reasonable notice of the need to do so, including but not limited to qualified sign language interpreters, alternative format of forms, notices, etc.

Non-grievable Matters:
The following matters are not grievable under this procedure:

  • Any of the offenses listed above, if occurring at facilities, services, or programs not owned or operated by the City;
  • A grievance that has already been addressed, investigated, and/or resolved by this process (see appeal process).
  • Any complaint related to employment with the City.

Procedure:
The complaint should be in writing and contain relevant information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, description of the problem, and the desired remedy sought. An accessible form will be provided to complainants online that will assist with the collection of relevant information. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or email submission, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request. If submitting a complaint through regular mail, email, or fax, submit to address below:

Title II ADA Coordinator
Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships
Denver Division of Disability Rights
201 W. Colfax Avenue, Dept 1102, Denver, CO 80202
DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org
Fax: (720) 913-8470

Upon receiving the complaint, the Denver Division of Disability Rights will determine if it is grievable under this procedure. If non-grievable, complainant will be notified in writing and, if appropriate, provided with resources to address their concerns elsewhere.

If grievable, the Title II ADA Coordinator will respond to the complainant, acknowledging receipt of their complaint and requesting any additional information necessary for the investigation. The Coordinator will contact any parties named or implicated in the content of the complaint to gather additional information. Depending upon the nature of the complaint and parties involved, it may be more appropriately addressed at the level of a department or agency ADA Liaison. If so, the complainant will be informed in writing of the appropriate contact and referred.

After gathering sufficient evidence, the Coordinator, or designated ADA liaison, will respond in writing, in a format accessible to the complainant, explaining the position of the City and offering options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

Accommodations to this procedure may be requested by contacting the Title II ADA Coordinator.

Appeals:
If the resolution does not satisfy the complainant, the complainant may send a written appeal to:

Director, Denver Division of Disability Rights
Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships
201 W. Colfax Avenue, Dept 1102, Denver, CO 80202
DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org
Fax: (720) 913-8470

Appeals must be timely (generally, appeals should be received within 30 calendar days) and relevant to the grounds for appeal. The original decision of the ADA Coordinator will be presumed to have been decided reasonably and appropriately; an appeal must demonstrate substantive error in the original decision, or present new evidence previously unavailable during the original investigation that could substantially impact the resolution. If appeal is not timely and relevant, the original decision will stand.

Record Retention:
All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator, appeals to the Director of the Division of Disability Rights, and responses from this Division will be retained by the City for three years.

Questions, Concerns, and/or Complaints, Non-Grievable:
Questions, concerns, and/or complaints related to employment with the City (covered under Title I of the ADA), should be directed to the Human Resources Center.

Requesting ADA Accommodations for a City Sponsored Event

To request an accommodation for a City-sponsored event, please contact: Denver Division of Disability Rights at DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org.

 


Meet the Team 

Alison Butler, Director

Alison Butler was names Director of the Division of Disability Rights in March 2022 following an extensive career working as a civil and disability rights attorney. Most recently, Alison worked with parents and children with disabilities in the state’s child welfare system and served as Director of Legal Services at our state’s federally designated disability advocacy organization, Disability Law Colorado. Over the course of her career, Alison has fought for the rights of people with disabilities in accessing government services, employment, housing, public accommodations, and adequate and equitable physical and mental health services. She routinely provides training and speeches for local, state, and national audiences on the rights of people with disabilities, including creating and teaching the inaugural Disability Rights Law course at University of Colorado Law School. Alison earned her B.A. from Florida State University and her J.D. from Columbia Law School. 

Alison is also currently serving as the liaison for HRCP's American Indian Commission. 

Alison enjoys hiking, SUPing, travelling, opera, zip-lining, and just spending time with her three children, dog, and cat. As a person living with Stage IV cancer, she is also active in various cancer support communities and charities.  

 

Kristina Ericson, ADA Programmatic Administrator

Kristina Ericson Rock ClimbingKristina Ericson is the ADA Programmatic Access Administrator for the Division of Disability Rights. Kristina works with program managers from all agencies of the City and County of Denver to evaluate programs, ensure ADA Title II compliance, and increase accessibility measures across the Mile High City.

Kristina holds a B.A. in Global Studies and Sustainable Development from Long Island University's Global College, and a Master's in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to moving to the Denver Metro Area in 2021 she worked in disability policy and research with notable Centers for Independent Living in St. Louis and Washington D.C. where she worked to expand critical health and transportation policies. In her previous roles she has managed adaptive recreation programs for the Adaptive Climbing Group, written grants for the New York Immigration Coalition, and expanded community partnerships for numerous outdoor agencies in New York City. In her spare time she is a guide for the USA Paraclimbing team, and organizes the annual Adaptive Climber's Festival - currently the only educational festival celebrating different abilities in rock climbing spaces.  

 

Megan Catafolmo, Senior Project Manager

Megan Catalfomo Headshot Megan Catalfomo is the Senior Project Manager for Disability Rights in the agency of Human Rights &   Community Partnerships. She works with her team, facility managers, and project managers to   remediate barriers to accessibility in Denver. Becoming a part of the “do-gooders” club has always   been Megan’s career goal: a paycheck with a purpose is how she puts it, so when she joined HRCP   last year, she immediately felt gratitude for the opportunity and excitement for all that lay ahead.   Having been diagnosed with MS in 2007, Megan is a champion for those living with MS by   volunteering, fundraising, and spreading awareness. She is the 8-time captain of Bike MS Team   FlyDenver and Team JuneShine and The Midnight Painkillers! With her involvement with the MS   community, she has realized the dire need to create a universally accessible world, and she hopes that   her role with the Disability Rights Division will be impactful in providing equity for people with   disabilities throughout the City and County of Denver!

 

Ro-Tien Liang, ADA Architectural Access Manager

Ro-Tien Liang & Family PortraitRo-Tien Liang’s role in the Division of Disability Rights includes providing management to staff responsible for plan reviews, accessibility inspections, project management, and external contractors in relation to compliance with architectural accessibility standards and other regulatory requirements. He will also be responsible for the documentation and implementation of policies and procedures related to structural access throughout the City, including the provision of technical interpretation, guidance, and assistance to ensure accessibility compliance in City facilities.

Ro-Tien comes to the City and County of Denver with 20 years of professional architecture experience in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. He has worked on various project types including residential, senior living, health care, education, and government work. His work has been recognized for design excellence and technical thoroughness by peers within the architectural community. Ro-Tien is a licensed architect and holds certification as a Contract Document Technologist, and LEED accredited profession. He is committed to utilize his architectural experiences to provide equity for people with disabilities.

Jeremy McKinnon, Accessibility Inspections Specialist

Jeremy McKinnon serves as the Accessibility Inspections Specialist for the Division of Disability Rights where he performs inspections and produces reports for accessibility barriers. These inspections are conducted within City owned-properties under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which helps eliminate discrimination based on disability.

Jeremy worked for Developmental Pathways, a Colorado non-profit agency created to serve persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where he provided home-care for clients and was an assistant program administrator. In 2006, Jeremy was hired as a superintendent with Max Construction, a Denver-based construction company, where he managed commercial tenant-finish projects. In 2015, he was hired as a construction inspector, with Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department, where he inspected residential and commercial construction projects for code compliance. In 2018, he was promoted to combination 1 inspector and has a General Contractor Class A Supervisor license. Jeremy has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.

 

Juan Pasillas, ADA Building Plans Reviewer

Juan Pasillas serves as the ADA Building Plans Reviewer for the Division of Disability Rights/Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships.

Juan graduated from Adams City High School in Commerce City, Colorado and has a Technical Degree in Architectural Design/Cad from CU Denver/Community College of Denver.  

Prior to joining the City and County of Denver, Juan worked for over 25 years on multiple commercial/residential design projects throughout the State of Colorado and across the country.

 

Spencer Pocock, ADA Building Plan Reviewer

Spencer Pocock serves as a Plans Examiner for the Division of Disability Rights, where he reviews construction documents submitted to the city for permitting and ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state accessibility codes.

A resident of Colorado Springs for most of his life, Spencer relocated to Denver in early 2023 to pursue his career with the City and County of Denver. Before working for the city, his career experience included GIS data collection/analysis as well as architectural design. Both experiences were within the private sector.

Spencer received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from CU Boulder.

Joan LaBelle, Title II ADA Coordinator

Joan LaBelle and her black German Shepperd puppy

 

Joan has lived with her disability since the age of five. She has served in disability rights positions across the country and has more than 35 years (both as a youth and an adult) within the disability movement. In particular, she has focused on oversight and expansions of programs, ensuring quality assurance of programs, meeting regulations and oversight of funding from a variety of sources (local, state, and federal).

Additionally, Joan has been active on boards across the country, serving on several committees and implementation of strategic planning/development, holding various positions as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.

Joan has been a state, local and national presenter on a variety of topics ranging from technical Funding Formulas to fun Disability Rights Jeopardy.

Currently Joan is serving as the City and County of Denver’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator within the Division of Disability Rights where she focuses on Title II of the ADA.

 


Stay Connected

Contact Us

Alison Butler, Director

Joan LaBelle, Title II ADA Coordinator

Ro-Tien Liang, ADA Architectural Access Manager

Megan Catalfamo, ADA Project Manager II

Juan Pasillas, ADA Building Plan Reviewer

Jeremy McKinnon, Accessibility Inspections Specialist 

Kristina Ericson, Programmatic Access Administrator

Spencer Pocock, ADA Building Plan Reviewer

 

201 West Colfax Avenue,
Dept. 1102 - 2nd Floor
Denver, CO 80202
TTY: (720) 913-8475
Fax: (720) 913-8470
DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org

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