ADA/TITLE VI COMPLIANCE
OCAST Discrimination and Federal Funding Policy
Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology (OCAST) receives and administers federal grant funds. As such, OCAST must ensure that the civil rights of persons who receive services from OCAST, as well as from any recipient of federal grant funding received from OCAST (sub-recipient), are protected.
The purpose of this policy is to establish written procedures for OCAST employees to follow when they receive a complaint alleging discrimination or retaliation in the delivery of services from clients, customers, program participants, or consumers of OCAST or a OCAST sub-recipient.
POLICY
In receiving or administering federal grant funds, neither the OCAST nor any sub-recipient may discriminate against any person on the basis of the person’s race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, or age, or retaliate against any person for having engaged in protected activity.
By virtue of receiving federal grant funding, OCAST, including its employees, contractors, and subrecipients must comply with the following civil rights laws and regulations:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d-2000d-7 as amended. Title VI states that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.)
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX), 20 U.S.C. §§1681-1688. Title IX states that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), 29 U.S.C. §794. Section 504 states that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. §610 et seq. The Age Discrimination Act states that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Fair Housing Act (FHA), Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (having one or more children under 18), and disability. It is illegal to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing, including against individuals seeking a mortgage or housing assistance, or to discriminate in other housing-related services or activities.
Executive Order 13166 entitled “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency” (requiring federally assisted recipients to provide meaningful access to clients, customers, program participants, or consumers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)).
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP)
OCAST will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons of limited-English proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access to and an equal opportunity to participate in the services and benefits provided by the OCAST.
Translation services will be made available as needed.
FILING A COMPLAINT
- A person who thinks he or she has been discriminated against by an employee, contractor, or sub-recipient of OCAST on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or physical or mental disability, or thinks he or she has been retaliated against for having engaged in protected activity, is encouraged to file a complaint with OCAST’s Administration Director.
- Contact Information for the OCAST Administration Director is:
Elaine Spell, Administration Director
Administrative Services Division
755 Research Parkway, Suite 110
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Email: Elaine.Spell@OCAST.ok.gov
Phone: (405) 319-8424
RESPONSE
- An employee, contractor, or sub-recipient of OCAST who receives a complaint that an employee, contractor, or sub-recipient of OCAST has allegedly participated in discriminatory or retaliatory conduct shall notify the Administration Director as soon as practical.
- Upon receipt of a complaint, the Administration Director shall determine whether the complaint should be investigated and if so, by whom.
- Investigations of complaints shall be completed in a reasonable time.
- All investigations will comply with applicable state and federal laws.
EXTERNAL AGENCIES
OCAST encourages individuals to file complaints of the kind discussed in this policy with the Administration Director. However, this policy is not intended to prevent individuals from seeking remedy under state or federal law.
If an individual feels he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited-English proficiency), sex, age, religion, or physical or mental disability, or alleges retaliation for having engaged in protected activity, a complaint may be submitted to:
U.S. Department of Treasury, Director, Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity
1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 204220
Phone: (202) 622-1160 | Fax: (202) 622-0367
Deaf and hard of hearing callers can dial 711 to call the OCRE phone number using the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Telecommunications Relay Service program.
Email: crcomplaints@treasury.gov
https://home.treasury.gov/about/offices/management/civil-rights-and-diversity
Individuals may also submit a complaint to:
Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General
Office of Civil Rights Enforcement
313 NE 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Email: ocre.complaints@oag.ok.gov
https://oklahoma.gov/oag/about/divisions/civil-rights-enforcement.html
CONTRACTS
OCAST will not enter into contracts nor continue existing contracts with any organization that knowingly discriminates against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or physical or mental disability or that retaliates against any person for having engaged in protected activity.
DISTRIBUTION
A copy of this policy will be made available to all OCAST employees, contractors, and sub-recipients. A copy will also be provided in orientation materials provided to new employees of OCAST.
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