Civil Rights

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Reasonable Modification

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (section 504), specifically to provide that transportation entities are required to make reasonable modifications/accommodations to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

The Keene Senior Center is happy to make reasonable modification to rides to accommodate a disability. If the rider needs a modification, the process to request the modification is to simply mention it to the Service Coordinator when calling to register a ride. The designated employee to ensure that a reasonable modification is made is the Senior Center’s Executive Director Mary Jensen; however, a Service Coordinator can arrange for the modification. The process to file a complaint regarding requesting or fulfilling requests for ride modifications for disability purposes is to log the complaint with Mary Jensen.

Information on compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

The Keene Senior Center hereby gives public notice of its policy to uphold and assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and all related statutes. Title VI and related statutes prohibiting discrimination in Federally assisted programs require that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal assistance.For more information on KSC’s civil rights program and the procedures to file a complaint, please contact 603-352-5037, email mjensen@thekeeneseniorcenter.org or visit our location at 70 Court Street, Keene, NH from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  

Discrimination Complaint Procedures

KSC has established a process for riders to file a complaint under Title VI. Any person who believes that she or he has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age by KSC may file a Title IV complaint by submitting to the KSC Title VI Coordinator at The Keene Senior Center, 70 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431. 

The Procedure 

Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice regarding KSC’s programs has a right to file a formal complaint with KSC. Any such complaint must be in writing and submitted to the KSC Title VI Coordinator within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the alleged occurrence. Verbal complaints are accepted and transcribed by Title VI Coordinator. To make a verbal complaint, call 603-352-5037 and ask for Title VI Coordinator.

Disposition of Complaints: 

Sustained Complaints

If the complaint is substantiated, this policy and procedure prohibiting discrimination will be reviewed with the offender. Appropriate disciplinary action and/or training will be taken pursuant to the agency disciplinary procedures.  

Unstained Complaints

If there is insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation(s), both parties to the complaint will be informed of the reason(s) for this disposition.

Unfounded Complaint

If it is determined that an act reported pursuant to this policy/procedure did not in fact occur, a finding of unfounded shall be made.

Exonerated Complaints

If it is determined that an act reported pursuant to this policy/procedure did in fact occur, but was lawful and proper within the guidelines established herein, a finding of exonerated shall be made. 

For more information regarding civil rights complaints, please contact: 

Title VI Coordinator 

The Keene Senior Center

70 Court Street

Keene, NH 03431

603-352-5037

Methods of filing a complaint: 

Send written complaints to: 

Title VI Coordinator 

The Keene Senior Center

70 Court Street

Keene, NH 03431

Verbal complaints are accepted and transcribed by Title VI Coordinator. To make a verbal complaint, call 603-352-5037 and ask for Title VI Coordinator.

KSC investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. KSC will process complaints that are complete. Once the complaint is received, KSC will review it and the complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing them whether the complaint will be investigated by KSC.

KSC has up to thirty days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, the KSC may contact the complainant. The complainant has thirty days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case.

If KSC’s investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional Information within thirty days, KSC can administratively close the case. A case can be administratively closed also if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, one of two letters will be issued to the complainant:

1. A closure letter. A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed.
   or
2. A letter of finding (LOF). A LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has ten days after the date of the letter or the LOF to do so. 

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration, at: 

Federal Transit Administration 

Office of Civil Rights 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590

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