Section 400.10  Purposes

a)         These ADA grievance procedures are established pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq. ("ADA"), and specifically Section 35.107 of the Title II regulations, 28 CFR Part 35, requiring the adoption of grievance procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action that would be prohibited by 28 CFR Part 35.  These procedures are to be construed as neither expanding nor diminishing the rights, privileges and remedies otherwise afforded by applicable law.

b)         In general, the ADA requires that each program, service and activity offered by the Illinois Commerce Commission ("Commission"), when viewed in its entirety, be readily accessible to and usable by qualified individuals with disabilities.

c)         It is the intent of the Commission to foster open communication with all individuals seeking access to programs, services and activities.  The Commission encourages prompt responses to requests for modifications before they become grievances.

d)         Any individual who wishes to review the ADA and applicable regulations to understand the rights, privileges and remedies they afford may contact the Commission's designated coordinator.

e)         The grievance procedures set forth in this Part are informal and do not give rise to a "contested case" for purposes of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 127, par. 1001-1 et seq.) or the Commission's Rules of Practice (83 Ill. Adm. Code 200).