(1) If a person believes an event, service, or facility funded by the commission has discriminated based upon a disability, he/she may do one of the following:

(a) File an informal complaint directly with the commission;

(b) File a complaint with the Washington state human rights commission; or

(c) Seek private legal counsel.

(2) If a person believes an event, service, or facility funded by the commission has discriminated for a reason other than disability, he/she should contact the Washington state human rights commission.

(3) If a person believes the commission has directly discriminated against him/her for any reason, he/she is advised to contact the Washington state human rights commission.

(4) Responding to informal complaints submitted to the commission. Staff will respond to complaints of discrimination based upon disability at/within/by a commission-funded event, service, or facility. Staff will work with its grantees to address the complaint. If access or an access plan is not satisfactorily attained within thirty days, staff will encourage the complainant to contact the Washington state human rights commission, to which staff will forward the complaint and any relevant records as determined by staff.

(5) If the complaint is verified and the grantee organization is found to be in noncompliance by the Washington state human rights commission, staff may put a hold on pending payment of any grant funds from the commission as well as withhold final decisions on any pending applications until that organization has addressed its noncompliance issues.