It is the policy of the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) to comply with all applicable laws including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act, the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law. The CEC does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the operation of its programs, services and activities and strives to be welcoming to and inclusive of people with disabilities.
Employment related complaints for employees and applicants for employment seeking a reasonable accommodation are covered under the City's EEO Policy.
Any member of the public who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a reasonable modification of policies or procedures in order to participate in our programs, services or activities (involving matters other than employment) is invited to direct their needs and preferences to the CEC's Disability Service Facilitator by email, phone or mail:
Benjamin Solotaire
Civic Engagement Commission
22 Reade Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Email: disabilityfacilitator@civicengagement.nyc.gov
Phone: 646-769-2213
Requests should be made as soon as possible but no later than three (3) business days before the scheduled program, service or activity. Questions, concerns or requests for additional information may be directed to the CEC Disability Service Facilitator.
If you believe that you have been denied an auxiliary aid or service or a reasonable modification of policies or procedures that you need in order to participate in programs, services or activities provided by the CEC please see the CEC's grievance procedure below.
Any member of the public alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the CEC may file a grievance with the CEC which should contain:
"Grievance" is the term for the allegation filed with the CEC by a member of the public.
"Grievant" is the term for the person alleging discrimination in the grievance.
The grievance should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date of the alleged violation to:
Benjamin Solotaire
Civic Engagement Commission
22 Reade Street
4th Floor
New Yoprk, NY 10007
Email: disabilityfacilitator@civicengagement.nyc.gov
Phone: 646-769-2213
(Please include "Grievance" in subject line)
The grievance may be filed in one of two ways:
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the grievance, the Disability Service Facilitator or designee will contact the grievant to discuss the grievance and possible resolutions.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days of this contact with the grievant, the Disability Service Facilitator or designee will provide a response in writing. Grievants may request the response in an additional format accessible to them, such as large print, Braille, or audio recording. This response will address the grievance, describe the CEC's position, and offer options for substantive resolution of the grievance, where applicable.
The grievant may appeal the CEC's decision within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the CEC's response.
The appeal should be mailed to:
Dr Sarah Sayeed
Civic Engagement Commission
22 Reade Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10007
The appeal may be filed in one of two ways:
The CEC's response to the appeal will be provided to the grievant in writing within sixty (60) days following receipt of the appeal. Grievants may request the response in an additional format accessible to them, such as large print, Braille, or audio recording. This response will address the appeal, describe the CEC's decision, and offer options for substantive resolution of the appeal, where applicable.
All written grievances, appeals, and responses in connection with a grievance made to the CEC's will be retained for at least three (3) years.
Note: Upon request to the Disability Service Facilitator, this page can be made available in an alternative format.
The CEC is committed to ensuring its digital content is accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Our digital content is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to this accessibility standard.
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our digital content. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility issues by using the Website Accessibility Feedback Form.
If you need assistance accessing a particular program or service, please reach out to the CEC's Disability Services Facilitator at 646-769-2213 or disabilityfacilitator@civicengagement.nyc.gov
The CEC assesses the accessibility of its digital content through self-evaluation.
The Civic Engagement Commission is part of the Mayor’s Office. Local Law 12 of 2023 requires agencies to develop and implement a five-year accessibility plan. The Mayor’s Office’s Five-Year Accessibility Plan can be found below: