Disability Rights Attorney

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest Fire Department in the United States and universally is recognized as the world's busiest and most highly skilled emergency response agency. The Department's main goal is to provide fire protection, emergency medical care, and other critical public safety services to residents and visitors in the five boroughs. FDNY members are sworn to serve and protect life and property and the Department works to continually educate the public in fire, life safety and disaster preparedness, along with enforcing public safety codes. Since its inception in 1865, FDNY has helped lead efforts to make New York the safest big city in the nation. This accomplishment requires a steadfast and daily commitment to maintaining the Department's core values. The Agency Attorney LIII supervises the Disability Rights Unit (DRU). The unit is responsible for handling the FDNY’s Reasonable Accommodation (RA) process for civilian, EMS, and Fire personnel seeking RA for disability, religious observances, and domestic violence and/or stalking. The Agency Attorney Level III also serves as the FDNY’s Disability Service Facilitator and coordinates requests for reasonable accommodations from members of the public. This position requires strong knowledge of Title VII of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and New York State and City Human Rights Laws, independent judgment, excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt and handle challenging conversations and circumstances. Responsibilities include: · Provide supervision, legal guidance, and substantive oversight of the review and processing of RA requests and the Cooperative Dialogue process. · Oversee and participate in the Cooperative Dialogue with FDNY employees and management, including identifying potential accommodations, obtaining and evaluating relevant information, and conduct undue hardship analyses to determine whether requested accommodations or alternative accommodations can be reasonably provided. · Ensure that the FDNY’s RA practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and with DCAS’ Reasonable Accommodation policies and guidelines. · Assist employees and managers in understanding their rights and responsibilities regarding reasonable accommodations within the Agency. · Providing guidance and support to the Assistant Commissioner, and Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity. · Prepare and submit quarterly, annual, and other required reports concerning RA requests and DRU activities; · Correspond with FDNY personnel, management, medical practitioners, and other relevant parties to obtain and evaluate information necessary to assess Reasonable Accommodation requests. · Serve as the FDNY’s Disability Service Facilitator (DSF) and coordinate the Agency’s response to requests from members of the public for disability-related accommodations and access to FDNY programs, services, and facilities. · Investigate complaints of disability discrimination and prepare appropriate findings and recommendations. · Research legal and policy issues affecting disability rights and RA and remain current on developments in applicable federal, state, and local law. · Work with FDNY Legal Affairs and other stakeholders to review and implement revisions to Reasonable Accommodation policies, procedures, and practices, as necessary. · Collaborate with the Office of Labor Relations, as appropriate, on labor relations matters involving Reasonable Accommodations, including preparation for and participation in arbitration proceedings. · Develop, maintain and ensuring all record keeping and data tracking processes and procedures are timely, accurate, and consistent, for reporting.