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Resources for Southwest Colorado

CONSUMER RIGHTS

  • Southwest Center for Independence (SWCI) staff, Southwest Rides (SWRides) staff, and the board of directors will treated you with respect and without discrimination based on your type of disability, age, race, gender, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, political and/or religious beliefs.
  • You have the right to view your file with a written request.
  • We will always offer you a copy of your Independent Living Plan and any other papers you sign.
  • You may have any person of your choice present at any meetings with the SWCI staff.
  • We will hold any personal information about you in confidence, unless you give us permission to release information. All medical information collected is HIPPA protected.
  • You have the right to receive reasonable modifications and accommodations based on disability and other factors. Please ask for alternative communication formats if you need them.
  • You may file a Grievance using the procedure outlined below.
  • You also have civil rights, including the right to be treated without discrimination in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by SWCI in any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint in accordance with our Consumer Grievance Procedure (outlined below).

CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide staff with necessary information for determining your eligibility for services.• Provide staff with necessary information for determining your eligibility for services.
  • Work in partnership with your Independent Living Specialist (ILS) or Driver to set your goals and to share the work in achieving your goals.
  • Inform your Driver/ILS:
    • If you are dissatisfied with your services, your goals, or the way you’re achieving them.
    • Of resources you know about that may help you in achieving your goals.
    • When you want to change or add items to your Independent Living Plan.
  • Always treat SWCI and SWRides staff with respect, and refrain from rude and derogatory remarks.  You may be asked to leave and/or the police may be called for:
    • Fighting or threatening behaviors 
    • Harassment of anyone
    • Presence/influence of drugs and/or alcohol 
    • Use of discriminatory or racist speech
    • Any illegal activities
    • Smoking/vaping
    • Weapons of any kind
  • Maintain the confidentiality of people you meet through SWCI and SWRides.
  • We request a minimum 24-hour notice of cancellation.  Failure to cancel an appointment or a trip by 4PM the day prior constitutes a late cancellation.
  • Service Animals are defined by law as dogs or miniature horses that have been individually trained to perform a specific task or service for a person with a disability.  We require that service animals be under control on the floor next to the owner. Animals are not allowed on furniture or vehicle seats for any reason, and will be asked to leave if out of control or not housebroken.  No pets of any kind are permitted in the vehicles.
  • If you require service accommodations or modifications based on your disability, you must tell your ILS or your Driver.

RIDER-SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

  • SWRides requests a minimum of five business days’ advance notice for transportation requests.
  • Riders must be ready for pick up on time. Driver may leave to pick up the next rider after 5 minutes.
  • Not being ready, refusing to get in the vehicle, or not being home constitutes a no-show. Constant no-shows, double bookings for transportation, and last minute cancellations cannot be tolerated.  Recurring offenders may be suspended from riding for 30 to 90 days at a time.
  • SWRides reserves the right to cancel routes due to adverse weather conditions. If a trip is cancelled, you will be notified as soon as possible so your appointments can be rescheduled. We will try to delay our start rather than cancel whenever possible. Southwest Rides is not liable for cancellation fees incurred due to missed or cancelled appointments.
  • SWRides reserves the right to cancel routes due to adverse weather conditions. If a trip is cancelled, you will be notified as soon as possible so your appointments can be rescheduled. We will try to delay our start rather than cancel whenever possible. Southwest Rides is not liable for cancellation fees incurred due to missed or cancelled appointments.
  • Food Bank riders are responsible for their own referrals. Riders may pick up their own order and one for someone else, providing the Food Bank’s policies are followed. Riders are responsible for picking out their food and completing all necessary paperwork at the Food Bank.
  • SWRides allows the legal transport of accompanied children.  It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to provide and secure their own children in their own legal car seats.  The driver cannot assist in loading, buckling or unloading of car seats for any reason.
    • Birth – age 1, less than 20 lbs:  Rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
    • Birth – age 1, less than 20 lbs:  Rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
    • Age 1 – 3, at least 20 lbs:  Forward-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
    • Age 4 – 7:  Booster seat.
    • Age 8+ or 4’ 9”:  Standard vehicle safety belt.
    • Riders 14 years plus may ride without being accompanied by a parent or guardian. 
  • All riders agree to avoid the following during transportation services: • All riders agree to avoid the following during transportation services:
    • Refusal to wear a seat belt
    • Refusal to wear a seat belt o Food & drink

SWCI RIGHTS/RESPONSIBILITIES

  • SWCI reserves the right to give hiring preference to qualified applicants with disabilities.
  • SWCI reserves the right to give hiring preference to qualified applicants with disabilities.
  • When resources are not available, SWCI reserves the right to serve those with the most need and/or those who are most motivated to work on their own behalves. 
  • SWCI reserves the right to deny service at any time, for any reason. If the Driver/ILS feels that someone is a danger or is compromising the safety of other passengers, consumers, the Diver, the ILS or others, the person will be asked to leave immediately and will be restricted from future participation in the program. Failure to leave or exit the vehicle may result in police intervention. 

CONSUMER GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

In the interest of our consumers and riders, Southwest Center for Independence asks anyone who feels they have not been treated fairly, or not given the best consumer services, to speak to us about it. We value self-advocacy, and hope you will consider other options before you file a grievance, which is an official statement of a complaint over something believed to be wrong or unfair.

 

  1. If you are dissatisfied with the services you receive at the Center, we encourage you to first discuss your issue with your IL Specialist or Driver.  1) If you are dissatisfied with the services you receive at the Center, we encourage you to first discuss your issue with your IL Specialist or Driver.
  2. If you are still unhappy with the outcome of that discussion, please make an appointment to meet with the Independent Living or Transportation Program Manager at the Center to discuss your concerns, by calling the Center at (970) 259-1672.
  3. If you need assistance or an accommodation at any step of this process, please let the Program Manager know. We can work with alternate formats, assign another staff to help you communicate with your ILS, or work out other arrangements.
  4. If the Program Manager does not respond within 2 weeks or has not responded to your satisfaction, please put your complaint in writing to the Executive Director. The Program Manager can get you a form if you need it.  You should include as much specific information as possible, and include a description of what resolution you are looking for.  The Executive Director’s decision is final, and they will give you an answer within 2 weeks of receipt of the grievance.

 

You may also file a formal complaint about SWCI, through the Client Assistance Program at Disability Law Colorado, in Grand Junction at 800-531-2105, 711 TTD – Relay, or by Email at [email protected]

CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING POSSIBLE DISCRIMINATION (TITLE VI)

SWCI operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a Title VI complaint with SWCI. Please note that a Grievance and a Civil Rights complaint are very different things.

 

  1. If you believe you have been discriminated against based on your race, color, or national origin by Southwest Center for Independence/ Southwest Rides, you may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form (attached).  You can also get the form the Program Manager at our office (3473 Main Ave. Unit 23, Durango, CO, 81301), or from our website.
  2. Once the executive director has received your complaint, they will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by our office.  If SWCI has jurisdiction to investigate the complaint, the Human Resources Manager will conduct a formal investigation. 1) Once the executive director has received your complaint, they will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by our office.  If SWCI has jurisdiction to investigate the complaint, the Human Resources Manager will conduct a formal investigation.
  3. SWCI has 3 weeks (15 business days) to investigate the complaint. If we need more information to resolve your complaint, we may contact you in writing. You will have 3 weeks (15 business days) from the date of the letter to send the additional information to the HR Manager. If you do not contact the investigator or provide the additional information within 15 business days, SWCI can administratively close the case. A case can also be administratively closed if you no longer wish to pursue the case
  4. After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant
    1. A closure letter that summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation so the case will be closed. • A closure letter that summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation so the case will be closed.
    2. A Letter of Finding (LOF) that summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training, or other staffing action will occur. If you wish to appeal the decision to the executive director, you have 30 days after the date of the letter or the LOF to do so. • A Letter of Finding (LOF) that summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training, or other staffing action will occur. If you wish to appeal the decision to the executive director, you have 30 days after the date of the letter or the LOF to do so.

You may also file a formal Title VI complaint through the Client Assistance Program at Disability Law Colorado, in Grand Junction at 800-531-2105, 711 TTD – Relay, or by Email at [email protected].

If your Title IV complaint is about Southwest Rides, you may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration by filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Additionally, there is the Colorado Civil Rights Division at the Department of Regulatory Affairs for discrimination complaints. Call 303-894-2997, Hotline Español 720-432-4294, or Email for general inquiries [email protected], or intake [email protected]. If you are an individual with a disability and require an accommodation in order to access CCRD’s services, please call 303-894-2997, 711 TTD – Relay, or send an email to [email protected].

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ADA Accomodations

Full list coming soon 

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Resources for Southwest Colorado

CONSUMER RIGHTS

aging and disability resources of Colorado

Contact yoru local ADRC Specialist first

Archuleta County:
Kay Kaylor
970-264-0501; ext. 1

La Plata County:
Kate Garrett
970-382-6429

Dolores County:
Audrey Garchar 
970-562-4626

Montezuma County:
Linda Germaine
970-564-2772

Visit Website 

Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

Tara Kiene presentation 03/2019

la plata family resources center

La Plata Family Centers Resource Guide

la plata family resources center

San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging

Assistance Programs

Hospital Bills

Rhonda Hatfield 09/11/2019

  • Colorado Indigent Care Program
  • Financial Assistance Program

Medicaid:  The Basics – Julie Reiskin, CCDC

See Video

Regional Transportation Options

Jessica Laitsch (COG) 09/11/2019

  • Local Transportation Options
  • Regional Transit Guide 09/2019

See Video

Useful Topics 

No Wrong Door

SWCI Testimonials

Explore Southwest Center for Independence

About SWCI

people hugging each toher

Work with us

Contact swci

Donate to Southwest Center for Independence

Invest with SWCI to create a world where people with disabilities are valued friends and neighbors who participate in their communities!