(1) It is the policy of the department of services for the blind that persons shall not be discriminated against (in employment or service) because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, sex, presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, disabled veteran status or Vietnam era veteran status, recently separated veteran status, or other protected veteran status and (in employment only) because of marital status.

(2) It is a violation of this nondiscrimination policy when inequitable practices, based on factors listed in subsection (1) of this section, occur in service delivery or employment. Some of these practices include: Denial of services or benefits; refusal to hire or promote; failure to provide appropriate interpreter services including American sign language (ASL); limiting access to services because of inaccessible facilities; failure to make reasonable accommodations to allow full participation of persons with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services; denial of the opportunity to act as a consultant or volunteer, or serve on committees and boards.

(3) The department nondiscrimination policy is consistent with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1972; Executive Order 11250; sections 503 and 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the 1974 Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Assistance Act, as amended; the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Washington State Law Against Discrimination, chapter 49.60 RCW; Affirmative Action, chapter 49.74 RCW; and Policy 188 – Accessibility, Office of the Chief Information Officer.