Self-Advocacy Complaint Options for Virginians with Disabilities

This section provides self-advocacy complaint options for Virginians with disabilities.  Not sure which complaint is best for your individual situation?  Contact dLCV to discuss your disability rights and options!

Do you have a complaint about:

• An inaccessible business or state/local government agency?
• An inaccessible federal building or facility?
• A provider licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)?
• An inpatient or outpatient hospital?
• A home care organization?
• A CCC Plus Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO)?
• A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)?
• A HIPAA violation?
• Disability discrimination by a health care provider?
• Medicaid fraud, abuse, or neglect?
• A Representative Payee appointed by the Social Security Administration?
• Disability discrimination by the Social Security Administration (SSA)?
• A public guardian?
• Fair Housing?
• Disability discrimination by a public transit provider?
• Disability discrimination by an airline?
• The abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult?
• The abuse or neglect of a child?
• Do you have a complaint about your registration or voting experience?

Do you have a complaint about an inaccessible business or state/local government agency?

• Let the U.S. Department of Justice know using their online complaint form.
• You can access more self-advocacy information about Accessibility and Accommodations for people with disabilities on our website.

Do you have a complaint about an inaccessible federal building or facility?

Let the U.S. Access Board know using their online complaint form.

Alternate ABA Complaint Filing Methods

• E-mail to enforce@access-board.gov;
• Fax to (202) 272-0081; or
• Mail to: Compliance and Enforcement Section
  Office of the General Counsel
  U.S. Access Board
  1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000
  Washington, DC  20004-1111

Note: Due to office closures caused by Covid-19, we recommend not filing by mail or fax since staff is not present in the office to receive that correspondence.

Do you have a complaint about a provider licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)?

• Let the DBHDS Office of Licensing know using their online complaint process.
• Let the DBHDS Office of Human Rights (OHR) know using their Regional Manager Contact Information.
• Let the Office of the State Inspector General know where abuse, neglect or inadequate care is suspected in any program or facility operated, licensed or funded by the DBHDS.

Do you have a complaint about an inpatient or outpatient hospital?

• Let the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Licensure and Certification know using their online complaint process.

Do you have a complaint about a home care organization?

• Let the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Licensure and Certification know using their online complaint process.

Do you have a complaint about a CCC Plus Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO)?

• Let the Virginia Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman know using their Grievances and Appeals process.

Do you have a complaint about a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)?

• Let the State Corporation Commission’s Office of the Managed Care Ombudsman know.

Do you have a complaint about a HIPAA violation?

• Let the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services know by filing your complaint electronically via the OCR complaint portal.

Do you have a complaint about disability discrimination by a health care provider?

• Let the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services know by filing your complaint electronically via the OCR complaint portal.

Do you have a complaint about Medicaid fraud, abuse, or neglect?

• Let the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit know by completing their online complaint form.

Do you have a complaint about a Representative Payee appointed by the Social Security Administration?

• Let the Social Security Office of the Inspector General know.  You can use this online form to report allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse concerning SSA programs and operations.
• You can access more self-advocacy information about the Social Security Representative Payee Program on our website.

Do you have a complaint about disability discrimination by the Social Security Administration (SSA)?

• Let the SSA Office of the General Counsel know: Use this online form to help you file a complaint of discrimination about a program or activity conducted by the Social Security Administration. 

·        Let the SSA Office of the General Counsel know: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-437.pdf to help you file a complaint of discrimination about a program or activity conducted by the Social Security Administration.

Do you have a complaint about a public guardian?

• Let the Virginia Public Guardian & Conservator Program know using their complaint process and procedure.
• You can access more self-advocacy information about making a complaint about your guardian on our website.

Do you have a complaint about Fair Housing?

• Let the Virginia Fair Housing Office know.  If you believe you are the victim of housing discrimination, you may file a complaint by downloading the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form.
• Let the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity know. If you believe your rights may have been violated, we encourage you to submit a complaint.
• Our Fair Housing Resource Center provides self-advocacy information about rights and resources for fair housing and assistance animals in the place where you live.

Do you have a complaint about disability discrimination by a public transit provider?

• If you believe you have been discriminated against by a public transit provider, you may file an administrative complaint with the  Federal Transit Administration (FTA ) Office of Civil Rights.
• Learn more self-advocacy information about access to public transportation on our website.

Do you have a complaint about disability discrimination by an airline?

• If you feel that the airline does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may want to file a complaint with DOT.  U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Do you have a complaint about the abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult?

• To report suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation, call your local departments of social services or the 24-hour, toll-free Adult Protective Services (APS) hotline at: (888) 832-3858.

Do you have a complaint about the abuse or neglect of a child?

• Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Child Protective Services (CPS) 24-hour, toll-free hotline at: 1-800-552-7096

Do you have a complaint about your registration or voting experience?

• Let the Virginia Department of Elections know:  If you have a complaint related to your registration or voting experience, the law provides several options for you to take action.