PARTICIPANT RIGHTS WPPM # 510-30 Subject: Treatment of Individuals Item: Program Accessibility

PURPOSE: Provides information to ensure that the WIC Program is equally accessible to all applicants and participants. POLICY: I. The local agency (LA) must ensure that the WIC Program is equally accessible to all applicants and participants. No qualified individual with a disability must, on the basis of such a disability, be subjected to discrimination or be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of the services provided to the public. PROCEDURE(S): I. The LA must: A. Ensure that appropriate bilingual staff, volunteers, or other translation resources are available to serve non-English speakers and limited English proficient persons in a timely manner. Costs for translator and interpreter staff or services are allowable in the LA contract budget. B. Comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements to ensure that all categorically eligible persons with disabilities have an equal opportunity to apply and participate in the WIC Program by offering facilities and services accessible to persons with disabilities (including participants’ alternates and proxies). C. Designate (for LAs that employ 15 or more persons) an employee as the individual responsible for the coordination of civil rights activities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This may be the same individual responsible within the agency as a whole; not solely the WIC Program at the LA. AUTHORITY: 7 CFR §246.8 Nondiscrimination Americans with Disability Act (ADA) 1990 Americans with Disability Amendment Act (ADA AA) 2008 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Revised California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 1 of 1 July 1, 2014