Office of Civil Rights

Overview

 Title VI, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., was enacted as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. The State of Tennessee became the first state to pass legislation enforcing Title VI compliance in all of its departments, programs, and agencies. Accordingly, DIDD and providers who contract with DIDD to provide services are required to comply with Title VI and must not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any applicant for services or person supported based on race, color or national origin in the admission to or participation in any of its programs and activities.

DIDD’s Office of Civil Rights has been given authority and jurisdiction to investigate and handle civil rights complaints related directly to the provision of services by DIDD or provider agencies who contract with DIDD to provide services. If you believe that someone has been denied access to, or is being discriminated against in the provision of, a DIDD program or service, please contact either: (1) the Title VI Coordinator or the Title VI Representative for the provider agency; (2) either the Regional Title VI Coordinator for the Region where you are located [see “Contact information” tab] or the Central Office Title VI Coordinator at didd.ocr@tn.gov; (3) the Tennessee Human Rights Commission [https://www.tn.gov/humanrights/file-a-discrimination-complaint.html]; or (4) the federal government through the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/race/index.html].