Accessibility

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the State of Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Employment: MACC 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: MACC will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in MACC programs, services, and activities.  Effective communication may include, but is not limited to qualified sign language interpreters, large print documents, Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to persons who have speech, hearing, and/or vision impairments.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures: MACC will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in MACC programs, services, and activities.  For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in MACC offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.

Requests for an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures in order to participate in an MACC program, service, or activity, should contact the office of MACC ADA Accessibility Coordinator, Jeff Garrett, [email protected], (517) 242-3678. To ensure a request for accommodation can be met, please make request at least two weeks before an MACC program, service, or event.

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

MACC 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.

Grievances regarding the Michigan Arts and Culture Council
A customer, client, guest, or visitor who feels they have been discriminated against based on a disability, or feels an MACC activity, program, or service was not accessible to persons with disabilities should contact MACC ADA Accessibility Coordinator, Jeff Garrett, [email protected],  (517) 242-3678.

Grievances regarding external activities, programs or services outside of the MACC
A person who believes they have been discriminated against by an organization based on a disability, or believes activities, programs or services outside of the MACC were not accessible to persons with disabilities has the right to file a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

In many cases, a person may consider contacting the organization before filing a complaint.  Reaching out can offer a direct dialogue for discussion, which could lead to a faster solution.

Questions about civil rights, concerns, and process for filing a complaint based on a disability, should be directed to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, https://www.michigan.gov/mdcr, (800) 482-3604.

MACC ADA GRANTEE REQUIREMENTS

MACC funded projects are required to be ADA accessible to persons with disabilities.  Applicants and awardees must consider physical and programmatic accessibility as part of a project’s planning and budgeting processes. MACC applicants must submit an ADA accessibility self-evaluation.

MISSION SUPPORT APPLICANTS

Mission Support applicants are required to upload a current copy of a completed National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook.

The Mission Support grant program provides funding to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and culture organizations throughout the state of Michigan that have a primary charitable purpose reflecting arts and culture that are open to the public.

The NEA provides the SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook to assist grant applicants in evaluating their current state of ADA accessibility. The NEA SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook is intended to: assist organizations in their efforts to comply with NEA regulations, better understand the Americans with Disabilities Act, and enlighten arts and cultural organizations in identifying strengths, as well as areas for improvement in administration, facilities, and programs.

The NEA SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook is available as a PDF download for applicants to “Save As” to their desktop, complete, save, retain for records, and upload when required.

NEA SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook for Mission Support Applicants.

NEA SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook "THINGS TO CONSIDER" document is a helpful guide.

Once complete, an applicant organization must maintain a copy of the NEA SECTION 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook in the organization’s files. The NEA self-evaluation is valid for three (3) years from the date of completion.

EXPERIENCE SUPPORT APPLICANTS

Experience Support applicants are required to upload a current copy of a completed MACC Accessibility Self-Evaluation for Experience Support Applicants document.

The Experience Support grant program provides arts and culture-related project funding to Michigan organizations for which arts and culture is not the primary focus of the organization’s mission.  MACC funding may only be allocated towards arts and culture programs/projects/services that are open to the public.

The MACC Accessibility Self-Evaluation for Experience Support Applicants document is intended to assist organizations in their efforts to comply with MACC regulations, become more familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and enlighten organizations in identifying strengths, as well as areas for improvement in administration, programming, and facilities. The document can assist applicants in the evaluation of their project’s current state of ADA accessibility.

The MACC Self-Evaluation for Experience Support and Partnership Applicants document is available as a PDF download for applicants to “Save As” to their desktop, complete, save, retain for records, and upload when required.

MACC Accessibility Self-Evaluation for Experience Support and Partnership Applicants

Once complete, an applicant organization must maintain a copy of the MACC Accessibility Self-Evaluation for Experience Support Applicants document in the organization’s files. The MACC self-evaluation is valid for the duration of the grant period.