Accessibility Complaints
How to file a Complaint
If you feel you have been discriminated against based on your disability status, please use the following tool to determine how to file complaints.
If you are seeking advice or advocacy to help resolve an issue in the short term, check out this list of advocates who can assist you. Sometimes advocates can help resolve an issue without going through a lengthy complaint process.
- City of Cincinnati operated facility, program, service, department, or activity. File a Complaint Against City Government. (ADA Title II-Public Services)
- City of Cincinnati Employment Complaint (City of Cincinnati Human resources) (ADA Title I- Employment)
- EEOC Employment complaint anywhere other than with the City of Cincinnati Government (ADA Title I- Employment)
- City of Cincinnati Streetcar ADA Complaint (ADA Title VI- Transit)
- Cincinnati Police Department Complaint form (Title II- Public Services)
- Any other entity located in the City of Cincinnati (Restaurant, apartment building, Metro bus, school, retail, etc.) (ADA Title III- Public Accommodation) Choose which State, local or federal entity you wish to contact.
- Still need help or advice? Check out this list of advocates who can assist you.
Employment
The City of Cincinnati’s Personnel Policy governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination. Anyone wishing to file an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) grievance related to their employment with the City should file a complaint with the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office. You may call 513-352-2400 or fax a complaint form to 513-352-5223.
Should any employee require a reasonable accommodation of a disability, it should be requested through the City’s Human Resources Department using the form available online. This form is to be used by both current City employees and job applicants for City of Cincinnati positions. If you require reasonable accommodation with regards to filling out the form, please contact the Human Resources Department at: 513-352-2400 or HumanResourcesCustomerInput@cincinnati-oh.gov.
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
John W. Peck Federal Office Building
550 Main Street, 10th Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45202
1-800-669-4000 (voice)
1-800-669-6820 (TTY)
File with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
State, Federal, and Local Enforcement of Accessibility Standards
Enforcement of State Law
Ohio Civil Rights Commission
The primary function of The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is to enforce state laws against discrimination. OCRC receives and investigates charges of discrimination in employment, places of public accommodation, housing, credit, and disability in higher education on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, military status or familial status.
Cincinnati Satellite Office
7162 Reading Road, Ste., 606
Cincinnati, OH 45237
513-351-2541 (voice)
937-285-6500 (TTY)
File with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission
Enforcement of Federal Laws (ADA)
US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, created in 1957 by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all persons in the United States, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, religion, familial status, national origin, and citizenship status.
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
4CON, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20530
File with the U.S. Department of Justice
Enforcement of City Municipal Code
Have you experienced any housing, employment, or public accommodation discrimination within the past 6 months that you feel was based disability status?
In the City of Cincinnati, it is illegal to discriminate or treat individuals differently based on race, gender, age, color, religion, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, or transgender status, or ethnic, national or Appalachian regional origin; or to have grooming policies that prohibit treated or untreated hair, natural hair, afros, braids, twists, cornrows, or locks. It is also illegal for employers to request salary history of an applicant for employment.
For more information about what constitutes unlawful discrimination, please see the City’s Municipal Code 914 on Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.
The provisions of Chapter 914 shall not apply to any act or charge of discrimination that is currently or was previously the subject of any state or federal civil, criminal or administrative proceeding.
To report unlawful discrimination, please submit your complaint to the City of Cincinnati here:
ONLINE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FORM
PRINTABLE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FORM
Accessibility-Related Service Requests
You can report a variety of accessibility-related issues to the City of Cincinnati including broken sidewalks, a crossing without a curb ramp, lack of accessible on street parking, objects blocking the sidewalk, a construction site that did not provide an accessible alternative route, and more. Requests can be made by dialing 311 (or 513-765-1212), downloading the 311Cincy mobile app, or online at 311cincy.com.