Government Accountability

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties of an ADA Coordinator (ADA Title II)

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II, any state or local government with 50 or more employees must designate at least one ADA Coordinator. This person is responsible for making sure the public can access government services, buildings, programs, and activities without discrimination.

Below is a clear summary of what an ADA Coordinator is required to do.

1. Ensure Equal Access to All Government Services

The ADA Coordinator must make sure people with disabilities can access:

  • county buildings
  • court services
  • public meetings
  • law‑enforcement services
  • online services
  • forms and documents
  • public programs and activities

They must identify and remove barriers that prevent equal access.

2. Coordinate ADA Compliance Across All County Departments

The ADA Coordinator is responsible for:

  • reviewing county policies
  • identifying ADA problems
  • recommending fixes
  • ensuring departments follow ADA requirements

They act as the central point of responsibility for ADA compliance.

3. Respond to ADA Requests and Accommodation Needs

The ADA Coordinator must:

  • receive accommodation requests
  • help people understand their rights
  • coordinate reasonable modifications
  • ensure timely responses
  • document all requests and outcomes

This includes courthouse access, communication needs, and program access.

 4. Manage the ADA Grievance Process

Every county must have a written ADA grievance procedure.

The ADA Coordinator must:

  • receive ADA complaints
  • investigate complaints
  • communicate with the person filing
  • document findings
  • recommend corrective action
  • maintain grievance records

They cannot ignore or dismiss ADA complaints.

5. Train County Staff on ADA Requirements

The ADA Coordinator must ensure county employees understand:

  • nondiscrimination rules
  • reasonable accommodations
  • effective communication requirements
  • service‑animal rules
  • courthouse access obligations
  • how to interact with people with disabilities

Training is a core duty.

6. Ensure Effective Communication

The ADA Coordinator must ensure the county provides:

  • interpreters
  • accessible formats
  • captioning
  • assistive listening devices
  • plain‑language materials
  • accessible websites

Communication must be as effective for people with disabilities as for everyone else.

7. Review Policies, Procedures, and Administrative Orders

The ADA Coordinator must review:

  • courthouse administrative orders
  • sheriff’s office policies
  • county procedures
  • public‑facing rules
  • building access policies

If a policy or order violates ADA Title II, the ADA Coordinator must:

  • notify the responsible official
  • recommend corrective action
  • document the issue

They cannot remain silent about ADA violations.

8. Identify and Remove Physical Barriers

The ADA Coordinator must:

  • inspect county buildings
  • identify access barriers
  • recommend modifications
  • coordinate with maintenance and administration
  • ensure ADA‑compliant entrances, parking, and routes

Courthouse access is a major responsibility.

9. Maintain ADA Documentation and Records

The ADA Coordinator must keep:

  • accommodation request logs
  • grievance records
  • policy reviews
  • training records
  • barrier‑removal plans
  • communications with departments

Failure to maintain records is a compliance issue.

10. Serve as the Public’s Point of Contact

The ADA Coordinator must:

  • be publicly listed
  • be reachable by phone, email, and mail
  • answer ADA questions
  • assist individuals with disabilities
  • guide people through the grievance process

Their contact information must be easy to find.

Responsibilities

What the ADA Coordinator Must Do When a Court Issues an Administrative Order That Violates State or Federal Law

Under ADA Title II, every state and local government must ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to all programs, services, and activities — including courts, sheriff’s offices, county buildings, and public services.

If a judge issues an administrative order that conflicts with:

  • the ADA
  • federal civil‑rights laws
  • the U.S. Constitution
  • Tennessee statutes
  • nondiscrimination requirements

…the ADA Coordinator has specific responsibilities.

Below is a clear explanation of what federal law requires.

1. The ADA Coordinator Must Follow Federal Law Above Local Orders

Under the ADA and the U.S. Constitution:

Federal law overrides state law, and state law overrides local administrative orders.

This means:

  • If a court order violates ADA Title II, the ADA Coordinator cannot support or enforce the discriminatory portion.
  • The ADA Coordinator must follow federal disability‑rights law first.

They cannot remain silent when an order blocks access or discriminates.

2. The ADA Coordinator Must Identify ADA Violations in Court Orders

The ADA Coordinator is responsible for reviewing:

  • courthouse policies
  • administrative orders
  • access procedures
  • security procedures
  • public‑entry rules

If an order:

  • denies access
  • restricts entry
  • creates barriers
  • discriminates
  • fails to provide reasonable modifications

…the ADA Coordinator must recognize it as a potential ADA violation.

3. The ADA Coordinator Must Notify the Appropriate Officials

When an administrative order appears to violate ADA Title II, the ADA Coordinator must notify:

  • the issuing court (through proper channels)
  • the county mayor
  • the county attorney
  • the sheriff (if enforcement is involved)
  • relevant department heads

The ADA Coordinator’s job is to alert decision‑makers to the ADA conflict.

4. The ADA Coordinator Must Recommend Corrective Action

The ADA Coordinator must:

  • explain how the order conflicts with ADA requirements
  • recommend reasonable modifications
  • propose solutions that restore equal access
  • document the issue

They cannot simply observe a violation and take no action.

5. The ADA Coordinator Must Protect Access to Courts

Courts are a core public service under ADA Title II. The ADA Coordinator must ensure:

  • equal access to courtrooms
  • accessible entrances
  • nondiscriminatory security procedures
  • reasonable accommodations
  • effective communication

If an administrative order blocks access, the ADA Coordinator must intervene.

6. The ADA Coordinator Must Document the Issue

The ADA Coordinator must maintain records of:

  • ADA complaints
  • grievances
  • access problems
  • communications with officials
  • recommended modifications
  • outcomes

Failure to document ADA issues is itself a compliance problem.

7. The ADA Coordinator Must Respond to ADA Complaints About the Order

If a citizen files an ADA grievance about a court order, the ADA Coordinator must:

  • accept the complaint
  • investigate it
  • communicate with the complainant
  • document findings
  • recommend corrective action

They cannot ignore or dismiss ADA grievances.

8. The ADA Coordinator Must Ensure Reasonable Modifications Are Provided

If an administrative order creates a barrier, the ADA Coordinator must ensure that reasonable modifications are offered, such as:

  • alternative entry procedures
  • accessible routes
  • communication accommodations
  • modified security procedures
  • scheduling adjustments

The ADA requires flexibility when a policy blocks access.

9. The ADA Coordinator Must Prevent Deliberate Indifference

Under federal civil‑rights law, an ADA Coordinator cannot:

  • ignore known ADA violations
  • fail to act on complaints
  • fail to notify officials
  • fail to recommend corrections

Doing nothing after learning of an ADA violation is considered deliberate indifference, which is prohibited.