Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 86
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS:
SUBJECT: Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance
EFFECTIVE: February 11, 2021
REVISED: March 4, 2025
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Policy
III. Definitions
IV. Designated ADA Coordinators
V. General Procedures
VI Responsibilities of ADA Coordinators
VII. ADA Responsibilities of Communications Center Director
VIII. ADA Responsibilities of the Professional Development Division and Captain
IX. ADA Responsibilities of the Technology Solutions Director
X. ADA Responsibilities of the Public Affairs Division
XI. ADA Responsibilities of other Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Staff
XII. Grievance Procedures
XIII. Additional Resources
I. PURPOSE:
A. The purpose of this General Order is to confirm the commitment of the Seminole County Sheriff’s
Office that it will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of
disability.
B. Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discriminating against
qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement,
compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
C. Title II of the ADA protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis
of disability in services, programs, and activities provided by state and local government entities.
D. This General Order sets forth the responsibilities and actions to be taken by members of the
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in meeting the requirements of the ADA. This General Order
will include the requirement of procedures for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints
and requests for assistance and the duties and responsibilities of agency staff.
II. POLICY:
A. It is the policy of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office that no qualified individual will be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination, in
programs or activities sponsored by the agency based on his/her disability. The Seminole County
GENERAL ORDER
Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance
G-86 Page 1 OF 11\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nSheriff’s Office shall provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action
which is prohibited by the U.S. Department of Justice regulations implementing the ADA.
B. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office shall provide reasonable accommodation to qualified
individuals, regardless of disability, unless the accommodation creates an undue hardship on the
agency, or a direct threat to the employee or others.
C. Pursuant to the Act, if a disabled employee can perform the essential functions of the job, with or
without reasonable accommodation, and is otherwise qualified, he/she will not be denied any
employment opportunity/benefit based on his/her disability.
D. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office will not discriminate against any member of the public to
include arrestees and detainees from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination, in programs or activities based on his/her disability.
E. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office will assist members of the public with disabilities in their
ability to participate in meetings, activities and use of its public website and publicly available
materials and services.
F. Appropriate auxiliary aids and services will be made available by the Seminole County Sheriff’s
Office to ensure effective communication by those with a related disability.
G. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office will make information about their services, activities, and
facilities available in a format that is accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing and
those who are blind or have low vision.
H. This policy will apply to all persons who are considered "disabled" under the ADA, which
includes persons who have a condition that impairs a major life activity or have a history of such a
condition, or are regarded as having such a condition.
I. In addition to discrimination based upon disability, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has an
Employee Harassment policy (General Order #25) used to address discrimination on the basis of
age, genetic information, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy,
religion, retaliation from alleging a discriminatory action and harassment based upon any of these
characteristics. Separate from these procedures, members of the public as well as members of the
agency internally are not prohibited from filing grievances with Professional Standards pursuant to
General Order #34.
J. No internal procedure is meant to deny a person’s ability to seek redress in other ways authorized
by law.
III. DEFINITIONS:
A. ADA Coordinator
Individual(s) designated to monitor agency and applicant disabilities to determine ability to
perform the essential functions of the job and the need for reasonable accommodation and to
address ADA grievances.
B. ADA Notice
A notification put out by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office identifying certain rights of
persons with a disability and the identity and contact information of the ADA Coordinator(s).
C. Auxiliary Aids and Services
Devices or services that enable effective communication and participation for people with
disabilities.
GENERAL ORDER
Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance
G-86 Page 2 OF 11\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nD. Captions
Captions for the hearing-impaired refers to the words displayed on a television screen that follow
along with the audio portion of the program.
D. Disability
Physical or mental impairment (physiological disorder, cosmetic disfigurement, mental or
psychological disorder and so forth) in which an individual;
1. Cannot perform one or more major life activities, such as walking, speaking, hearing;
2. Substantially limits the condition, manner or duration of performance of a major life
activity compared to the general population.
E. Effective Communication
Whatever is written or spoken must be as clear and understandable to people with disabilities as it
is for people who do not have disabilities.
F. Essential Functions - fundamental job duties of the position;
The essential functions of the job are essentially the major job tasks that any person in the position
must be able to do. They are the reason that a job exists. The ability to perform essential job
functions, with or without a reasonable accommodation, determines if an applicant or employee
with a disability is qualified for the job.
G. Qualified Individual with a Disability
A disabled person who is able to perform the essential functions of a job or meet the essential
eligibility requirements of the program, benefit or service, with or without a reasonable
accommodation to his or her condition.
H. Major Life Activities
Term includes caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping,
walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking,
communicating and working.
I. Major Bodily Function
Term includes physical or mental impairment such as any physiological disorder or condition,
cosmetic disfigurement or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems, such as
neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs),
cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, immune, circulatory, hemic, lymphatic, skin
and endocrine. Also covered are any mental or psychological disorders, such as intellectual
disability (formerly termed “mental retardation”), organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental
illness and specific learning disabilities.
J. Reasonable Accommodation
Any modification or adjustment to a job, activity, service or program by changing policies,
practices, providing auxiliary aids and improving physical accessibility, unless that would impose
an undue hardship on the agency. A "reasonable accommodation" is a modificatio