Through
HUD Section 504, OHA ensures that a “qualified” person with a handicap:
- Is afforded
an opportunity equal to that afforded to others
- Is provided
housing and benefits as effective as those afforded to others
- Is not
provided different or separate housing or benefits unless necessary to provide
the person with a handicap with housing and benefits that are as effective as
those provided to others
What is a
Reasonable Accommodation?
A reasonable
accommodation is a change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy practice
or service that may be necessary for the person with a disability to have an
equal opportunity to the Housing Authority’s programs and services.
What is the
definition of a Person with a Disability?
A person
with a disability is any person who:
- Has a
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the
major life activities of an individual; or
- Has a record
of having such impairment; or
- Is regarded
as having such impairment
What is
OHA’s Staff Role and Responsibility?
OHA’s
employees are responsible for ensuring that the agency does not discriminate
against a person with a disability by refusing to make a reasonable
accommodation that may be necessary to allow that person equal access under any
of the programs administered by OHA.
Requesting
Reasonable Accommodation
A reasonable
accommodation request(s) may be made by or on behalf of a person with a
disability to any OHA staff. If a participant or applicant indicates that an
exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service is
needed because of a disability, the OHA must treat that information as a
request for a reasonable accommodation even if no formal written request is
made.
Verbal
requests are the most common types of requests. In cases such as these,
the participant is provided a “Request for a Reasonable Accommodation” form (RA form
#OHA290104). Be advised that if the participant or applicant does not complete
the “Official RA form,” it does not negate or cancel out the fact that a
reasonable accommodation request was made.
For more
information, please contact:
Darryl
Moore, 504 Coordinator & Sr. Management Analyst
1805
Harrison Street
Oakland, CA
94612
dmoore@oakha.org
(510) 587-2116
To access HUD's Section 504 notices,
regulations and supportive documents click here.