Notice of Equal Opportunity
No person shall be denied access to activities, programs and services of the Department of Human Services (DHS) on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, mental or physical disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or familial status. This includes the activities, programs and services of a local department of social services (DSS) agency, as well as vendors who provide services for DHS’s customers.
Requesting a reasonable accommodation:
If you are an individual with a disability, you may be entitled to reasonable accommodation to help you access DHS’s activities, programs and services. This applies even if you are dealing with a DSS agency or a vendor who provides services for DHS’s customers.
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a DHS/DSS activity, program or service which helps a qualified individual with a disability have meaningful access to DHS’s activities, programs and services.
Examples of Reasonable Accommodations:
- Hearing Impairment: sign language interpreter; providing an assistive listening device
- Visual Impairment: having a qualified reader read to a customer
- Mobility Impairments: mailing forms to a customer; meeting a customer at a more accessible location
- Developmental Disabilities: Having things written down; taking breaks; scheduling appointments around a customer’s medical needs
You may request a reasonable accommodation from a DSS agency or a vendor at any time and your request may be oral or written. There are no particular words that you need to use to request an accommodation. A request may be made by you or someone helping you. A request for a reasonable accommodation may be made in person, in writing or over the telephone. If you need to request a reasonable accommodation because of your disability, you should speak with the ADA Field Coordinator at your local DSS agency. The name of the ADA Coordinator is posted at your DSS agency. You May use the form on the reverse side of this notice. Also, you may ask for more information at the front desk.
To Discuss A Concern About Your Disability:
If you believe that you are entitled to a reasonable accommodation because of your disability, but one was not provided, you may contact DHS’s Office of Employment and Program Equity (OEPE) at 410-767-7861 or by email at dhr.oepe@maryland@maryland.gov. You mail also your complaint to Maryland Department of Human Services, ATTENTION: Complaints, Office of Employment and Program Equity, 25 South Charles Street
Street, Floor 18, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3330.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at attn: Director, HHS Office for Civil Rights, 200 Independence Avenue. S.W., Room 509F HHH Bldg., Washington, D.C.
20201 or call1-800-368-1019 (voice) or 1-800-537-7697 (TTY).
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call 202-690-7442, or email to
intake@usda.gov. Hearing impaired individuals may call 1-800-877-8339 (TDD) or 1-866-377-8642 (relay voice users) or 1-800-845-6136 for Spanish.