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Committee for Persons with Disabilities

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The Mayor’s Committee on the Handicapped was established in 1975. In 1988, the name was changed to Wilson Committee for Persons with Disabilities to better reflect its role in the community.

The 12-member committee is appointed by City Council. The volunteers who serve are appointed for terms of three years. The Committee meets monthly on the second Thursday at 4:30 PM at 316 South Douglas Street, Wilson NC. 

Mission Statement

The Wilson Committee for Persons with Disabilities is dedicated to creating public awareness, expanding opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities. The Committee works to achieve its mission by:

  • Serving as a communications link between persons with disabilities of the Wilson Community and all organizations and agencies whose primary functions or activities are to offer services and assistance to persons with disabilities;
  • Advising the Mayor and City Council on all matters concerning persons with disabilities;
  • Promoting the gainful employment of persons with disabilities;
  • Promoting information on programs and services that aid persons with disabilities;
  • Working to remove architectural and attitudinal barriers; and
  • Aiding in the development of new programs and services for persons with disabilities.

Members of the Committee

  1. Latoya Best 
  2. Claudia Cunningham 
  3. Tia Foula 
  4. Gay Joyner
  5. Debora Powell
  6. Jeannine Reid-Mays
  7. Ken Robol
  8. Natashia Shelly
  9. Gary Smolen
  10. Jean Smolen
  11. Michael Stanford
  12. Deon Williams 

Events

The Wilson Committee for Persons with Disabilities supports the following events annually:

  • Halloween Safe Night
  • Basketball Special Olympics
  • Special Olympics Spring Games
  • Wilson County Schools Whirli-Wellness Fair

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Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), the City of Wilson will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Employment

The City of Wilson does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.

Effective Communication

The City of Wilson will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in The City of Wilson’s programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures

The City of Wilson will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in the City of Wilson offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of The City of Wilson, should contact the office of:

Billy J. Woodard, Human Relations Director
City of Wilson
P.O. Box 10
Wilson, NC 27894
252-399-2308

As soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require the City of Wilson to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Complaints that a program, service, or activity of the City of Wilson is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to:

Billy J. Woodard, Human Relations Director
City of Wilson
P.O. Box 10
Wilson, NC 27894
252-399-2308

The City of Wilson will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.

Grievance Procedure under The Americans with Disabilities Act

This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the City of Wilson. The City of Wilson Personnel Policy governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination.

The complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, and description of the problem. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complaint, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.

The complaint should be submitted by the grievant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to:

Billy J. Woodard, Human Relations Director
City of Wilson
P.O. Box 10
Wilson, NC 27894
252-399-2308

Within 15 days after receipt of the complaint, Billy J. Woodard or his designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days of the meeting, Billy J. Woodard or his designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, Braille, or audio tape. The response will explain the position of the City of Wilson and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

If the response by Billy J. Woodard or his designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within 15 days after receipt of the response to the City Manager or their designee

Within 15 days after receipt of the appeal, the [City Manager/other appropriate high-level official] or [his/her] designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days after the meeting, the City Manager or their designee will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.

All written complaints received by Billy J. Woodard or his designee, appeals to the City Manager or their designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by the City of Wilson for at least three years.


Questions?

For more information, contact the Human Relations Office by calling 252-399-2308.