Resource Guide: COMPLAINTS
Last Updated; March 28, 2011
C.A.R.E.S., Inc.
Client Assistance Program
134 Main Street, Suite 2C
Winthrop, ME 04364
1-800-773-7055 (V/TTY/Maine Relay 711)
377-7055 (V/TTY/Maine Relay 711)
377-7057 (FAX)
E-mail: Steve.Beam@caresinc.org or
Kathy.Despres@caresinc.org
Website: www.caresinc.org
The Client Assistance Program is a federally funded program that provides information, assistance, and advocacy/direct representation for people with disabilities who are applying for or receiving services under the Rehabilitation Act. Programs under this legislation include Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living Services and Projects With Industry. Services from CAP are free of charge.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
ADA/Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator
11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0011
1-800-606-0215 (TTY)
287-4289 (V)
287-3488 (V)
DHHS has a policy to provide interpreters and has installed TTYs in most offices. To report any difficulty in obtaining
accommodations, contact one of the DHHS ADA/EEO Coordinators.
Closed Captioning Complaints
If you have a complaint about closed captioning contact the station and tell them what the problem is.
Major local television stations (all television stations telephone numbers are Voice only):
Portland/Westbrook:
ME PBS - 1-800-884-1717
WCSH - 1-800-464-1213 or E-mail: closedcaptioning@wcsh6.com
WGME - 282-7787 or E-mail: closedcaptioning@wgme.com
WMTW - 775-1800 or E-mail: wmtw@wmtw.com
WPXT - 774-0051 X131 or E-mail: cc@ourmaine.com
FOX - 828-0023 or E-mail: closedcaptioning@myfoxmaine.com
Lewiston/Auburn:
ME PBS - 1-800-884-1717
WCSH - 1-800-464-1213 or E-mail: closedcaptioning@wcsh6.com
WMTW - 782-1800 or E-mail: wmtw@wmtw.com
Bangor:
WABI - 947-8321 X160 or E-mail: captioning@wabi.tv
WLBZ - 1-800-464-1213 or E-mail: closedcaptioning@wlbz2.com
WVII - 945-6457 X3127 or E-mail: mastercontrol@wvii.com
Presque Isle:
WAGM - 764-4461 X222 or E-mail: ccap@wagmtv.com
If contacting the station directly doesn't work, you can complain, in writing, to the broadcasting company (if you use an antenna for TV reception) or to
the cable company (if you have cable) or to the satellite company (if you use a satellite dish).
Sample complaint letters are available on the NAD website www.nad.org/captioningcomplaint
or call Nancy Melanson at the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened for help.
You may also file a complaint to:
Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
445 12th Street SW, Room 6C-447
Washington, DC 20554
1-888-835-5322 (TTY)
1-888-225-5322 (V)
1-866-418-0232 (FAX)
E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov
Disability Rights Center of Maine (formerly Maine Advocacy Services)
P.O. Box 2007
24 Stone Street
Augusta, ME 04338-2007
1-800-452-1948 (V/TTY)
626-2774 (V/TTY)
621-1419 (FAX)
E-mail: advocate@drcme.org
Website: drcme.org
Disability Rights Center of Maine (DRC), the statewide protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, is a private,
nonprofit organization independent of state government. In partnership with people with and without disabilities, DRC promotes
and enhances the rights of people with disabilities so they can choose to live, receive education, work, be with family and friends,
and enjoy life in the community of their choice. DRC advocates for people with legal rights problems directly related to their
disability by:
- providing information about legal rights and service systems;
- referring people to appropriate services;
- individually representing people in meetings, hearings, and court; and
- working for service system reform and change.
Maine Center on Deafness
68 Bishop Street, Suite 3
Portland, ME 04103
1-800-639-3884 (V/TTY, within Maine)
797-7656 (V/TTY)
1-866-971-9133 (VP)
1-646-350-3314 (VP)
1-866-347-0275 (VP)
797-9791 (FAX)
Amy Sneirson, Esq., Civil Rights Program Managing Attorney
E-mail: asneirson@mcdmaine.org
Beth Gallie, Esq., Civil Rights Program Attorney Advocate
E-mail: bgallie@mcdmaine.org
Meryl Troop, CI, CT, SC:L, Civil Rights Advocate & Staff Interpreter
E-mail: mtroop@mcdmaine.org
1-866-347-0275 (VP)
Maine Center on Deafness (MCD) promotes the rights of D/deaf, late-deafened and hard-of-hearing people throughout the state. MCD advocates for D/deaf, late deafened and hard-of-hearing individuals whose civil rights related to hearing loss have been violated in employment, housing, federal, state and local government programs, education, and public accommodation situations.
MCD provides individual representation in meetings and hearings, and assists in obtaining workplace and other accommodations such as amplified phones, TTYs, captioning, educational services and interpreting.
MCD also provides systemic advocacy for Maine people with hearing loss. This advocacy includes working with Maine state agencies and Maine’s Legislature, and also includes convening the Deaf Rights Group (DRG), a statewide coalition open to organizations and individuals committed to obtaining equal access for the D/deaf, late deafened and hard-of-hearing people in Maine.
Maine Human Rights Commission
51 State House Station
19 Union Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0051
1-888-577-6690 (TTY)
624-6290 (V)
624-8729 (FAX)
Website: www.maine.gov/mhrc
The Maine Human Rights Commission is the state agency charged with the responsibility of enforcing Maine's anti-discrimination
laws. They receive and investigate complaints of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education, access to public
accommodations, and extension of credit. They attempt to resolve those complaints to the mutual satisfaction of all who are
involved. They may pursue a remedy in court when alternative solutions have failed.
Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
P.O. Box 128, One Weston Court
Augusta, ME 04332
1-800-499-0229 (V/TTY)
621-1079 (V/TTY)
621-0509 (FAX)
E-mail: MLTCOP@MaineOmbudsman.org
Website: www.maineombudsman.org
An advocacy program for long-term care consumers, the Ombudsman Program provides advocacy services for consumers of home health
services and for residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Maine Medical Center (MMC)
Vocational Services
22 Bramhall Street
Portland, ME 04102
Jan DeVinney, Deaf Services/Access Coordinator
877-399-3318 (VP)
662-4900 (TTY)
662-3847 (V)
E-mail: devinj1@mmc.org
MMC is committed to providing qualified sign language interpreters within one hour of a request, offering interpreting to all
deaf and hard of hearing patients and involved family members; providing TTYs for patient and visitor use; captioning on all
TVs; and amplified handsets and assistive listening devices for hard of hearing people.
State A.D.A. Accessibility Coordinator
150 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Eric Dibner, ADA Accessibility Coordinator
623-7950 (V)
1-888-755-0023 (TTY)
287-5292 (FAX)
E-mail: Eric.Dibner@Maine.Gov
The State ADA Accessibility Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all people with disabilities have equal access to state services and programs. These responsibilities include:
- Coordinate State compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the Maine Human Rights Act.
- Provide training and technical assistance.
- Review agency implementation of ADA compliance plans.
If you have any complaints about disability discrimination or accommodations in state services or programs contact Eric Dibner at the above number.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Region I
John F. Kennedy Building, Room 1875
15 New Sudbury Street
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-1343 (TTY)
1-800-368-1019 (V)
(617) 565-1340 (V)
(617) 565-3809 (FAX)
E-mail: OCRMail.hhs.gov
Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr/
If you believe discrimination has happened to you or anyone else because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability
or religion by a health care or human services provider (such as hospitals, nursing homes, social service agencies, etc.), you
or your representative may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Office for Civil Rights complaint process: Complaints usually must be filed within 180 days (6 months) from the date of the
alleged discriminatory act.
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Disability Rights Section-NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530
1-800-514-0383 (TTY)
1-800-514-0301 (V)
Website: www.ada.gov/
Report any ADA general complaints to this office.
Include the following information in your written complaint:
- Your name, address and telephone number. You must sign your name. (If you file a complaint on someone's behalf, include
your name, address and telephone number and state your relationship to the person - e.g., spouse, attorney, friend, etc.).
- Name and address of the institution or agency you believed discriminated against you.
- How, why and when you believe you were discriminated against or request a Discrimination Complaint Form from the Office
of Civil Rights (OCR).
