Accessibility Statement
This Accessibility Statement describes the standards we follow, the features we provide, and how to request accommodations or report a barrier.
Our Commitment
Blue Diamond Development Inc. (“BDDI”) is committed to making our website, our offices, and the multifamily properties we develop and manage accessible to people with disabilities. We design, build, and operate to meet or exceed applicable federal and state accessibility laws.
Standards We Apply
For our website, we work toward conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). For our buildings, we design and build to comply with:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design;
- The Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq., and the FHA Design and Construction Requirements (24 C.F.R. § 100.205);
- The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), 42 U.S.C. § 4151 et seq., where applicable;
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794, where federal financial assistance is involved;
- The International Building Code (IBC) Chapter 11 and ICC A117.1 as adopted by each jurisdiction;
- State accessibility codes that are stricter than federal minimums.
Website Accessibility Features
Our website is being continuously improved with accessibility in mind. Features include:
- Semantic HTML structure with proper heading hierarchy;
- Alternative text on informative images;
- Keyboard navigation support for primary interactive elements;
- Color contrast ratios that meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 AA minimums for body text;
- Resizable text without loss of content or functionality;
- Form labels and error messages that are programmatically associated with their fields.
Building Accessibility Features
Multifamily properties we develop after the FHA effective date include:
- Accessible building entrance on an accessible route;
- Public and common-use areas readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities;
- Doors designed to allow passage by a person using a wheelchair;
- Accessible route into and through the dwelling unit;
- Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and environmental controls in accessible locations;
- Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars;
- Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual using a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
Where required, we also provide ADA Type A and Type B units, mobility-accessible parking, accessible routes between site facilities, accessible amenities, and reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications consistent with applicable law.
Reasonable Accommodation and Modification
Tenants and applicants may request reasonable accommodations or modifications under the FHA and ADA. Submit a request to our property management team using the contact information below. We will respond promptly and engage in an interactive dialogue to identify accommodations that allow the tenant equal opportunity to use and enjoy the dwelling.
Service Animals and Assistance Animals
We comply with the ADA, the FHA, and HUD guidance on assistance and service animals. We do not charge pet fees or pet rent for verified service or assistance animals. Verification of need follows HUD’s guidance and applicable state law.
Accessibility Feedback and Complaints
If you encounter an accessibility barrier on our website or in any of our buildings, please tell us so we can address it. Contact:
Blue Diamond Development Inc.
Attention: Accessibility Coordinator
1501 South Greeley Highway, Suite C-3022, Cheyenne, WY 82007
Phone: (888) 851-1477
Email: derrick@bluediamonddevelopinc.com
We aim to respond within five (5) business days. We document each accessibility complaint and the corrective action taken.
Ongoing Improvement
Accessibility is a continuous effort. We test our website with automated accessibility tools, conduct manual reviews, and incorporate feedback. We train staff on accessibility awareness, fair-housing law, and reasonable accommodation procedures. We update our procedures as standards evolve.
Third-Party Content
Some content on our website is provided by third parties (such as embedded videos, maps, and forms). We work with vendors to choose accessible products and services, but we cannot guarantee the accessibility of third-party content. Tell us if you find a problem and we will work to resolve it.
Updates
We may update this Statement. The current Statement is the version posted on our Site.
Reasonable Accommodation Procedure
Tenants and applicants may request a reasonable accommodation by submitting a request in writing or orally to the property manager or directly to our Accessibility Coordinator. The request need not use any particular form or language, and the requester need not identify the request as a “reasonable accommodation request.” We accept requests at any time during the application process, the tenancy, or the move-out process.
On receipt of a request, we engage in an interactive dialogue with the requester to identify the specific accommodation that allows equal opportunity to use and enjoy the dwelling. We may request information that is necessary to evaluate the request, including documentation of the disability and the disability-related need, but we do not request the underlying medical condition or diagnosis. We respond to requests within ten (10) business days where the request is uncomplicated, and within thirty (30) days for requests that require third-party verification or that present a complex evaluation.
If we deny a request, we provide the reason in writing and offer the requester an opportunity to propose alternative accommodations. We document each request and the action taken in our records.
Reasonable Modification Procedure
Tenants may request a reasonable modification (a structural change to the unit, common area, or exterior) in accordance with the Fair Housing Act. We will allow modifications at the tenant’s expense unless the modification creates an undue hardship for the property or alters the fundamental character of the property. Where required, we may condition the modification on the tenant agreeing to restore the unit to its original condition at move-out, except for modifications that do not interfere with the next occupant’s use and enjoyment.
For modifications to common areas of properties receiving federal financial assistance, the modification cost is borne by the property unless undue hardship applies.
Section 504 and Properties Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
For properties receiving federal financial assistance (such as Section 8 project-based rental assistance, HUD-assisted developments, USDA Rural Development funds, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME funds, or CDBG funds), we comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the implementing regulations at 24 C.F.R. Part 8. We provide the required percentage of mobility-accessible units (typically 5%) and the required percentage of units accessible to individuals with hearing or visual impairments (typically 2%), or such higher percentage as is required by local rule.
Fair Housing Compliance
We comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity per HUD interpretation), familial status, and disability. We also comply with applicable state fair-housing laws, which often add additional protected classes (such as source of income, military or veteran status, age, marital status, ancestry, gender expression, sexual orientation, and others). We train staff on fair-housing compliance at hire and annually thereafter.
Service and Assistance Animals
We follow HUD’s guidance on service and assistance animals (HUD Notice FHEO-2020-01) and the ADA. A service animal under the ADA is a dog (or in limited cases a miniature horse) individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. An assistance animal under the FHA is broader and includes any animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates an identified symptom or effect of a disability.
For service animals under the ADA, we may ask only two questions: (1) is the animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the animal been trained to perform? We do not require documentation, certification, or registration. For assistance animals under the FHA, we may request reliable documentation of the disability and disability-related need where the disability and need are not readily apparent. We do not charge pet fees, pet rent, or breed restrictions for verified service or assistance animals.
Communication Access
We provide auxiliary aids and services as required by the ADA Title III and Section 504, including large-print or alternative-format materials, sign-language interpreters for property meetings where required, and accessible web content. To request an auxiliary aid or alternative format, contact our Accessibility Coordinator. We aim to fulfill requests with sufficient lead time to support the requester’s participation.
Complaint Process
If you believe we have failed to provide accessible service or have discriminated on the basis of disability, you may submit a complaint to our Accessibility Coordinator at derrick@bluediamonddevelopinc.com or to:
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, 1-800-669-9777 (Voice) / 1-800-927-9275 (TTY) / hud.gov;
- The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, ada.gov;
- The applicable state or local fair-housing agency.
We do not retaliate against any person for asserting a right under the ADA, the FHA, Section 504, or any state or local accessibility law.
Training and Resources
Our staff complete training on accessibility, fair housing, reasonable accommodations and modifications, service and assistance animals, and inclusive design at hire and annually thereafter. We document training completion. Our property and project management leaders maintain familiarity with the ADA Standards, ICC A117.1, the FHA Design and Construction Requirements, and applicable state codes.