Public Notice

Notifying the Public of Rights under Title VI/ADA 

Services for Independent Living (SIL) public notice of Title VI/ADA obligations can be found below.

SIL also posts in public areas of our agency, in our board manual, employment manual, program services manual, and in our transit vehicles. 

SIL operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

SIL operates its programs and services without discrimination against individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

For more information on SIL’s Title VI program and the procedures to file a complaint, contact the SIL Executive cutive Director at 573-874-1646; or visit our administrative office at 1905 W. Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203.

If you believe you have been discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, or disability by SIL, you may file a Title VI/ADA complaint by completing, signing, and submitting the agency’s Title VI/ADA Complaint form.

How to file Title VI and ADA complaints with Services for Independent Living:

1. To obtain a Title VI/ADA complaint form, contact the SIL Executive Director

at 573-874-1646; or visit our administrative office at 1905 W. Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203.

2. In addition to utilizing the civil rights complaint process through Services for Independent Living, complaints may also be filed directly with the

Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, 901 Locust St

# 404, Kansas City, MO 64106.

3. Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged incident and should contain as much detailed information about the alleged discrimination as possible. SIL has a “No Reprisal” policy, and your status as a consumer shall not be compromised in any way.

4. The form must be signed and dated and include your contact information.

5. Refer to the posted Procedure for Filing a Title VI and ADA Complaint.

6. The explanation on how Title VI and ADA complaints are filed and processed can be found in the “SUPPLEMENT TO PUBLIC NOTICE: Process for TITLE VI and ADA Complaints”.

7. If information is needed in another language, contact 573-874-1646.

SUPPLEMENT TO PUBLIC NOTICE

Process for TITLE VI and ADA Complaints

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” If you feel that you have been discriminated against in any way in the provision of transportation or other services, please review the procedure below for filing a complaint and complete the form that follows. Should you require any assistance in completing this form or need information in alternate formats, please let us know.

Procedure for Filing a Title VI and ADA Complaint

The complaint procedures apply to the beneficiaries of Services for Independent Living’s programs, activities, and services.

RIGHT TO FILE A COMPLAINT: Any person who believes they have been discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, or disability by Services for Independent Living may file a Title VI/ADA complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI/ADA Complaint Form. Title VI/ADA complaints must be received in writing within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory complaint.

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT: Information pertaining to filing a complaint is posted on our agency’s website and in public areas of our agency. All documents will be translated upon request. You may download the Title VI Complaint Form at: https://silcolumbia.org/public-notice (click the download button at the top of the webpage), request a copy by writing to Services for Independent Living, 1905 W. Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203, or submit your handwritten complaint form or handwritten complaint to the Executive Director at SIL or mail to SIL at: 1905 W. Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203. Information on how to file a Title VI complaint may also be obtained by contacting the Executive Director at Services for Independent Living at 573-874-1646.

You may file a signed, dated complaint form no more than 180 days from the date of the alleged incident. The complaint should include:

- Your name, address and telephone number.

- Specific, detailed information (how, why and when) about the alleged act of

discrimination.

- Any other relevant information, including the names of any persons, if known, the

agency should contact for clarity of the allegations.

COMPLAINT ACCEPTANCE: Services for Independent Living will process complaints that are complete.

Once a completed Title VI/ADA Complaint Form or handwritten complaint is received, SIL will review it to determine if SIL has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive a letter from the Executive Director informing them whether the complaint will be investigated by SIL.

INVESTIGATIONS: If an investigation is warranted, the Executive Director shall assign the investigation to the SIL Corporate Compliance Officer (serving in this case as the Title VI/ADA investigator) who will generally complete an investigation within 90 days from receipt of a completed complaint form. If more information is needed to resolve the case, SIL may contact the complainant. Unless a longer period is specified by SIL, the complainant will have ten (10) days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the SIL investigator assigned to the case. If the requested information is not received within that timeframe, the case will be closed. Also, a case can be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue the allegation.

LETTERS OF CLOSURE OR FINDING: After the Title VI/ADA investigator reviews the complaint, the Title VI/ADA investigator will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or letter of finding (LOF).

1. A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI/ADA violation and that the case will be closed.

2. A Letter of Finding (LOF) summarizes the allegations and provides an explanation of the corrective action taken.

If the complainant disagrees with Services for Independent Living’s determination, the complainant may request reconsideration by submitting the request in writing to the Title VI/ADA investigator within seven (7) days after the date of the letter of closure or letter of finding, stating with specificity the basis for the reconsideration. Services for Independent Living will notify the complainant of the decision either to accept or reject the request for reconsideration within ten (10) days. In cases where reconsideration is granted, Services for Independent Living will issue a determination letter to the complainant upon completion of the reconsideration review. SIL has a “No Reprisal” policy, and your status as a consumer shall not be compromised in any way.

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration, at the FTA Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

If information is needed in another language or if an individual prefers, they may submit a written complaint in their language of origin to Services for Independent Living, Executive Director at 1905 W. Ash Street, or call 573-874-1646.