Nondiscrimination & Accessibility

Title II ADA

Notice of Nondiscrimination

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the City of Waco will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Employment: The City of Waco 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. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADA Coordinator.

Effective Communication: The City of Waco will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in the City of Waco’s programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

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

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Waco, should contact the office of the ADA Coordinator as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.

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

The City of Waco 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 or services or reasonable modifications of policy.

Complaint Form

Title II ADA Assurance

Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Assurance

28 Code of Federal Regulations Part 35.130, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities. Subtitle A protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in the services, programs, or activities of all state and local governments. It extends the prohibition of discrimination in federally assisted programs established by section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to all activities of state and local governments, including those that do not receive federal financial assistance, and incorporates specific prohibitions of discrimination on the basis of disability from Titles I, III, and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This rule, therefore, adopts the general prohibitions of discrimination established under section 504, as well as the requirements for making programs accessible to individuals with disabilities and for providing equally effective communications. It also sets forth standards for what constitutes discrimination on the basis of mental or physical disability, provides a definition of disability and qualified individual with a disability, and establishes a complaint mechanism for resolving allegations of discrimination.

The City of Waco, HEREBY AGREES THAT, as a condition to receiving any federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration, is subject to and will comply with all laws and regulations, and hereby gives assurance that no qualified disabled person shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discriminations, including discrimination of employment, under any program or activity that received or benefits from this federal financial assistance. City of Waco further assures that its programs will be conducted, and its facilities operated, in compliance with all the requirements imposed by or pursuant to 49 CFR Part 27, 28 CFR Part 35, and 42 USC §§ 12101 – 12213.

Handwritten signature of Bradley Ford

Bradley Ford,
City Manager
City of Waco
9/8/2025

Title II ADA Statement

Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Nondiscrimination Statement

The City of Waco does not discriminate against any qualified disabled person solely by reason of his or her disability, exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or otherwise subject individuals to discrimination, including discrimination of employment, under any program or activity that receives or benefits from federal financial assistance.

Additionally, City of Waco ensures its programs will be conducted, and its facilities operated, in compliance with all non-discriminatory practices and requirements imposed by or pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 27, 28 CFR Part 35 and 42 USC §§ 12101 – 12213.

Handwritten signature of Bradley Ford

Bradley Ford,
City Manager
City of Waco
9/8/2025

Title II ADA Complaint Procedures

This complaint procedure is established to meet the requirements of the ADA. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the City of Waco.

The complaint should be submitted in writing as soon as possible, and no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. Complaints should contain the following information:

  • Name of the person making the report of discrimination
  • Contact information including address, phone number, and email of the person making the report
  • A description of the alleged discrimination including the date and location of the incident and, if applicable, the names of witnesses or City staff involved, if known.

Submit complaints to:
Lhea Homesley, ADA Coordinator
Preferred Method: Complaint Form
Email: lheah@wacotx.gov
Mail: City of Waco
PO Box 2570
Waco, TX 76702-2570
Attn: ADA Coordinator

Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request by contacting the ADA Coordinator.

The individual who submitted the complaint will be notified once it has been received. The ADA Coordinator, or another authorized representative, will then contact the individual to review the allegations, investigate the concerns, and issue a written response within 45 calendar days.

If the response from the ADA Coordinator does not fully resolve the concern, a written appeal may be submitted to the City Manager or designee. The appeal should include the following information:

  1. Explanation of the Appeal: A clear description of the specific aspects of the ADA Coordinator’s response that are being challenged.
  2. Requested Outcome: A statement outlining the desired result or action being sought through the appeal.

Providing this information ensures the concern is clearly understood and fairly reviewed during the next stage of the process. Upon receiving the written appeal, the City Manager or designee will reach out to the individual to discuss possible resolutions and will provide a written response outlining the final decision.

All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator, appeals to the City Manager or their designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by the City of Waco in accordance with the Texas Local Government Retention Schedule.

ADA Transition Plan

The City of Waco is currently undergoing a planning process for conducting a self-evaluation to identify and address accessibility barriers within City facilities, programs, services, and activities. The Self-Evaluation will be used to develop and update the Transition Plan.

Updates will be provided on this page periodically.

Feedback Opportunity
Please contact the ADA Coordinator to provide feedback regarding concerns about the accessibility of City facilities, programs, services, and activities.

ADA Coordinator:
Lhea Homesley
Employee Relations/ADA Coordinator
lheah@wacotx.gov
(254) 750-5693

2019 ADA Transition Plan

Web Accessibility

The City of Waco is dedicated to making our website accessible for all users. To enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities, we have implemented several features. Below are some key elements designed to improve the user experience.

We provide descriptive text equivalents for images and non-text elements, assisting users who utilize screen readers to listen to the site's content rather than reading it.

Major reports and special publications available on the website are typically offered in HTML or other accessible formats. When we publish documents in PDF format, we also ensure that an accessible version is available or provide a link for easy conversion to HTML.

The City of Waco is committed to ensuring its website meets the standards set by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines outline requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. We are actively working towards achieving compliance with WCAG Version 2.1, Level AA.

We continuously strive to ensure that our website is accessible and user-friendly. However, due to the wide range of assistive technologies available, some users may still encounter issues. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to provide feedback to help us improve and enhance the site's accessibility for users with disabilities.

If you use assistive technology and encounter any issues accessing information on our website, please contact the ADA Coordinator.

To help us assist you better, kindly specify the nature of your accessibility challenge, your preferred format for receiving the material, the web address of the content you requested, and your contact information.

ADA Coordinator:
Lhea Homesley
Employee Relations/ADA Coordinator
lheah@wacotx.gov
(254) 750-5693

Service Animal Notice

Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are dogs who have been trained to help an individual with a specific documented disability.

Service animals must always be under the handler's control, using:

  • a leash or harness; or
  • voice command, if the hander's disability or dog's work task prevents using a leash

A service animal can be removed by a City official if:

  • the animal is not housebroken; or
  • the animal is out of control and the handler fails to control the animal

Emotional support, comfort, or companion animals are NOT considered service animals.

Please do not allow the public to approach or pet your service animal.

Texas Human Resources Code, Section 121.005 states handlers can be held liable for damage to property or injuries to persons.

Texas Human Resources Code, Section 121.006 states that it is a violation of any person to misrepresent that a dog is a specially trained service animal, when training has not been provided.

ADA Coordinator:
Lhea Homesley
Employee Relations/ADA Coordinator
lheah@wacotx.gov
(254) 750-5693

Public Meetings & Auxiliary Aides Needed

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend public meetings and who may need auxiliary aides or services should contact the ADA Coordinator at least twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

ADA Coordinator:
Lhea Homesley
Employee Relations/ADA Coordinator
lheah@wacotx.gov
(254) 750-5693

Title IV Civil Rights

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Several other federal legal authorities supplement Title VI by extending protections based on age, sex, and disability. In addition, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-259) clarified Title VI enforcement by mandating that Title VI requirements apply to all programs and activities of federal-aid recipients regardless of whether any particular program or activity involves federal funds. Taken together, these laws require recipients and subrecipients of federal funds to ensure all programs and services are delivered to the public without discrimination.

Complaint Form

Title VI Coordinators

Lhea Homesley
Employee Relations/ADA Coordinator
lheah@wacotx.gov
(254) 750-5693

Julie Durham
Employee Relations Manager
julied@wacotx.gov
(254) 750-5703

Title VI Assurance

The City of Waco (herein referred to as the “Recipient”), HEREBY AGREES THAT, as a condition to receiving any Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is subject to and will comply with the following:

Statutory/Regulatory Authorities

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., 78 stat. 252), (prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin) and Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-259);
  • 49 C.F.R. Part 21 (entitled Non-discrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation-Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964);
  • 28 C.F.R. section 50.3 (U.S. Department of Justice Guidelines for Enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964);

The preceding statutory and regulatory cites hereinafter are referred to as the "Acts" and "Regulations," respectively.

General Assurances

In accordance with the Acts, the Regulations, and other pertinent directives, circulars, policy, memoranda, and/or guidance, the Recipient hereby gives assurance that it will promptly take any measures necessary to ensure that:

"No person in the United Sates shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity," for which the Recipient receives Federal financial assistance from U.S. DOT, including the Federal Highway Administration.

The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 clarified the original intent of Congress, with respect to Title VI and other Nondiscrimination requirements (the Age Discrimination

Act of 1975, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), by restoring the broad, institutional-wide scope and coverage of these non-discrimination statutes and requirements to include all programs and activities of the Recipient, so long as any portion of the program is Federally assisted.

Specific Assurances

More specifically, and without limiting the above general Assurance, the Recipient agrees with and gives the following Assurances with respect to its Federally-assisted U.S. DOT programs:

  1. The Recipient agrees that each "activity," facility," or "program," as defined in 49 USC§§ 21.23(b) and 21.23(e) or 49 C.P.R § 21 will be (with regard to an "activity") facilitated, or will be (with regard to a "facility") operated, or will be (with regard to a "program") conducted in compliance with all requirements imposed by, or pursuant to the Acts and the Regulations.

  2. The Recipient will insert the following notification in all solicitations for bids, Requests for proposals for work, or material subject to the Acts and the Regulations made in connection with all Department of Transportation programs and, in adapted form, in all proposals for negotiated agreements regardless of funding source:
    "The Recipient, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award."

  3. The Recipient will insert the clauses of Appendix A and Appendix E of this Assurance in every contract or agreement subject to the Acts and the Regulations.

  4. The Recipient will insert the clauses of Appendix B of this Assurance, as a covenant running with the land, in any deed from the United States effecting or recording a transfer of real property, structures, use, or improvements thereon or interest therein to a Recipient.

  5. That where the Recipient receives Federal financial assistance to construct a facility, or part of a facility, the Assurance will extend to the entire facility and facilities operated in connection therewith.

  6. That where the recipient receives Federal financial assistance in the form, or for the acquisition of real property or an interest in real property, the Assurance will extend to rights to space on, over, or under such property.

  7. That the Recipient will include the clauses set forth in Appendix C and Appendix D of this Assurance, as a covenant running with the land, in any future deeds, leases, licenses, permits, or similar instruments entered into by the Recipient with other parties:
    1. for the subsequent transfer of real property acquired or improved under the applicable activity, project, or program; and
    2. for the construction or use of, or access to, space on, over, or under real property acquired or improved under the applicable activity, project, or program.
  8. That this Assurance obligates the Recipient for the period during which Federal financial assistance is extended to the program, except where the Federal financial assistance is to provide, or is in the form of, personal property, or real property, or interest therein, or structures or improvements thereon, in which case the Assurance obligates the Recipient, or any transferee, for the longer of the following periods.
    1. the period during which the property is used for a purpose for which the Federal financial assistance is extended, or for another purpose involving the provision of similar services or benefits; or
    2. the period during which the Recipient retains ownership or possession of the property.
  9. The Recipient will provide for such methods of administration for the programs as are found by the Secretary of Transportation or the official to whom he/she delegates specific authority to give reasonable guarantee that it, other recipients, sub-recipients, sub-grantees, contractors, subcontractors, consultants, transferees, successors in interest, and other participants of Federal financial assistance under such program will comply with all requirements imposed or pursuant to the Acts, the Regulations, and this Assurance.

  10. The Recipient agrees that the United States has a right to seek judicial enforcement with regard to any matter arising under the Acts, the Regulations, By signing this assurance, the Recipient also agrees to comply (and require any sub-recipients, sub-grantees, contractors, successors, transferees, and/or assignees to comply) with all applicable provisions governing the U.S. DOT access to records, accounts, documents, information, facilities, and staff. Recipient also recognizes that it must comply with any program or compliance reviews, and/or complaint investigations conducted by the U.S. DOT. Recipient must keep records, reports, and submit the material for review upon request to U.S. DOT, or its designee in a timely, complete, and accurate way. Additionally, Recipient must comply with all other reporting, data collection, and evaluation requirements, as prescribed by law or detailed in program guidance.

The Recipient gives this assurance in consideration of and for obtaining any Federal grants, loans, contracts, agreements, property, and/or discounts, or other Federal aid and Federal financial assistance extended after the date hereof to the recipients by the U.S. DOT under all Department of Transportation Programs. This assurance is binding on Texas, other recipients, subrecipients, sub-grantees, contractors, subcontractors and their subcontractors, transferees, successors in interest, and any other participants in all Department of Transportation programs. The person(s) signing below is/are authorized to sign this assurance on behalf of the Recipient.

Handwritten signature of Bradley Ford

Bradley Ford,
City Manager
9/8/2025

Title VI Statement

The City of Waco, as a recipient of federal financial assistance and under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes, ensures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any Department programs or activities.

Handwritten signature of Bradley Ford

Bradley Ford,
City Manager
9/8/2025

Title VI Complaint Procedures

No person or groups of persons shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any and all programs, services, or activities administered by City of Waco, and its contractors, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin.

The scope of Title VI covers all internal and external activities of City of Waco.

The following types of actions are prohibited under Title VI protections (See 49 C.F.R. 21.5):

  • Excluding individuals or groups from participation in programs or activities
  • Denying program services or benefits to individuals or groups
  • Providing a different service or benefit or providing them in a manner different from what is provided to others
  • Denying an opportunity to participate as a member of a planning, advisory or similar body that is an integral part of the program
  • Retaliation for making a complaint or otherwise participating in any manner in an investigation or proceeding related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

How to File a Formal Title VI Complaint

Any person(s) or organization(s) believing they have been discriminated against on the basis of the protected classes stated above by City of Waco or its contractors may file a Title VI complaint.

Discrimination complaints should be submitted in writing as soon as possible and no more than 180 calendar days after the alleged incident occurred or was discovered. Complaints should contain the following information:

  • Name of the person making the report of discrimination.
  • Contact information including address, phone number, and email address of the person making the report.
  • The basis of the complaint (e.g. race, color, national origin, etc.)
  • A description of the alleged discrimination including the date and location of the incident and, if applicable, the names of witnesses or City staff involved, if known.

Submit complaints to: Lhea Homesley, Title VI Coordinator
Preferred Method: Complaint Form
Email: lheah@wacotx.gov
Mailing: City of Waco, PO Box 1270, Waco TX 76701, Attn: Title VI Coordinator
Phone: (254) 750-5693

Complaints can also be filed directly with the following agencies:

Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights
HCR-20, Room E81-320
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Email: CivilRights.FHWA@dot.gov

Texas Department of Transportation
Civil Rights Division
Attn: Title VI Program Manager
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request by contacting the Title VI Coordinator.

The Complainant will be notified once it has been received. The Title VI Coordinator, or another authorized representative, will then contact the individual to review the allegations, investigate the concerns, and issue a written response within 45 calendar days.

If the response from the Title VI Coordinator does not fully resolve the concern, a written appeal may be submitted to the City Manager or designee. The appeal should include the following information:

  1. Explanation of the Appeal: A clear description of the specific aspects of the Title VI Coordinator’s response that are being challenged.
  2. Requested Outcome: A statement outlining the desired result or action being sought through the appeal.

Providing this information ensures the concern is clearly understood and fairly reviewed during the next stage of the process. Upon receiving the written appeal, the City Manager or designee will reach out to the individual to discuss possible resolutions and will provide a written response outlining the final decision.

All written complaints received by the Title VI Coordinator, appeals to the City Manager or their designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by the City of Waco in accordance with the Texas Local Government Retention Schedule.

Fair Housing Act

What is the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act protects buyers and renters from housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, and familial status (including anticipation that children may become part of a household).

How do I report housing discrimination?

If an individual believes they have experienced housing discrimination, they can file a complaint with their local Fair Housing Officer, Galen Price at galenp@wacotx.gov.