How To Request ASL, CART, and Braille Accommodations

Steps to Request Accommodations

All COB staff can follow this process to acquire accommodations.*

* Quasi-City departments should follow their language access plan and process.

Any staff member may submit a request for accommodations; however, it is helpful to notify your LCA liaison about your pending accommodations request so that they can provide assistance as needed.

Non-urgent: (accommodations needed in 72 hours or later) Services that are requested to support regular operations.

Urgent: (accommodations needed in 24-48 hours) Services that are required on an unforeseen or unpredictable basis, typically to protect the health or safety of Boston residents but are less time-sensitive than Emergency Requests.

Emergency: (accommodations needed in 24 hours or less) Services that are required on an unforeseen or unpredictable basis, typically to protect the health or safety of Boston residents and are time-sensitive.

Use the Accommodations Request Form to either request funding from LCA’s central budget for the service or indicate that your department will cover the cost.

Request LCA funds if the request is:

1. 1. • Related to a Tier I or II Published Departmental Plan

      • Related to a Tier III or IV Designated Project

      • A Mayoral Ask

      • Related to an ARPA project

      • An approved recurring series, program, event, or initiative

Proceed with your departmental funds if the request is: 

• A new initiative for the fiscal year

• A project your department will fund directly and is not seeking LCA funding for

1. Approved

   1. You will receive an approval email confirming that LCA has obtained a quote for the service and approved the request for funding from the LCA central budget.

   2. Reply to the approval email, ensuring that both LCA and the vendor remain copied on the message.

   3. In your reply, provide the vendor with final authorization to begin work on the request.

   4. Use the original approval email thread for all communications related to this project to ensure that all correspondence is kept in one place.

2. Denied

   1. You will receive a denial email, indicating that LCA has not approved the request for funding from the LCA central budget.

   2. The denial email will include a quote for the requested service. If, after reviewing the quote, you wish to proceed with the service using departmental funds or another alternative funding source, please reply to the denial email. In your response, notify both the vendor and LCA that your department will assume responsibility for funding the accommodation and authorize the vendor to proceed with the request.

3. Departmental Funds

   1. You will receive an approval email that includes the Vendor Payment Information, and the vendor will be copied on the email.

   2. Reply to the approval email, keeping all recipients copied, to notify the vendor that they are authorized to begin work on the request.

   3. Create a Purchase Order (PO) and provide it to the vendor before services begin. The PO should be established in accordance with your department's procurement procedures to ensure timely payment.