FACT SHEET

Settlement Agreement between the United States of America and Atlanta, Georgia

On December 8, 2009, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with the City of Atlanta, Georgia, under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The Department initiated a compliance review of Atlanta in August, 2006, as part of Project Civic Access, a Departmental initiative to ensure greater access for Americans with disabilities to local government programs, services and facilities. Atlanta was selected for a compliance review because of the large number of individuals with disabilities who live in or visit the City. An on-site survey of the City's buildings, programs, and services was conducted in February, 2007. City staff worked cooperatively with the Department throughout the investigation in order to reach an agreement.

Facilities covered by the agreement include: Coan Park, Municipal Court, Atlanta Police Department Zone 1, Atlanta Police Department Zone 5, Washington Park Natatorium, Atlanta Fire Station 14, Atlanta Fire Station 4, Adamsville Recreation Center, Bessie Branham Recreation Center, Utoy Creek Reclamation Center, Washington Park Tennis Center, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Rosel Fann Recreation Center, Cleveland Avenue Recreation Center, Ben Hill Recreation Center, Morningside Recreation Center, Martin L. King, Jr. Recreation Center, Atlanta City Detention Center, Atlanta Fire Station 33, Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, Coan Park Recreation Center, Police Office of Professional Standards, Anderson Park Recreation Center, A. D. Williams Park, Gateway Homeless Services Center, Atlanta Fire Station 31, Piedmont Park Conservancy Magnolia Hall, Georgia Hill Neighborhood Facility, Martin L. King, Jr. Natatorium, Bass Recreation Center, Chastain Park Amphitheater, Pitman Pool/Recreation Center, Peachtree Hills Recreation Center, and Central Park Recreation Center.

The Department also reviewed access for persons with disabilities to Atlanta's programs, services, and activities operating in the following facilities: City Hall South, Atlanta City Hall Tower, Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, Public Defender's Office, Atlanta Police Department Zone 2, Atlanta Police Department Zone 6, Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, Piedmont Park Conservancy/Magnolia Hall, Candler Park Golf Course, Oakland Recreation Center, Adams Park & Recreation Center, Mcghee Tennis Center, Grant Park Recreation Center, Grant Park Swimming Pool, Brownwood Recreation Center, Bessie Branham Recreation Center, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Bitsy Grant Center, Collier Park and Recreation Center, Zaban Recreation Center, Atlanta Police Zone 3, Atlanta Police Zone 4, Atlanta Fire Station 15, Atlanta Fire Station 17, Atlanta Fire Station 35, Dunbar Neighborhood Facility, John C. Birdine Neighborhood Facility, and Maddox Park.

In addition, the Department reviewed Atlanta's policies and procedures for emergency management and disaster prevention and sidewalk maintenance as well as the Atlanta Police Department's policies and procedures regarding communication with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The text of the settlement agreement specifies the modifications Atlanta will be making to its programs, services, and facilities. Among other things, the City has agreed to:

• make physical modifications to its facilities so that parking, routes into the buildings, entrances, public telephones, restrooms, service counters, and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities;
• post, publish, and distribute a notice to inform members of the public of the provisions of title II and their applicability to the City's programs, services, and activities;
• train staff in using the Georgia relay service;
• continue to ensure that TTY calls to the City's 9-1-1 emergency service are answered as quickly as other calls, that its monitoring of incoming calls includes the monitoring of incoming TTY calls for timing and accuracy; and that employees are trained and practiced in using a TTY to make and receive calls;
• ensure that the City's official website is accessible to people with disabilities;
• take actions to ensure that the City provides equal access for persons with disabilities to all aspects of its emergency management program, including preparation, notification, response, and clean up;
• install signs at any inaccessible entrance to a facility directing persons with disabilities to an accessible entrance or to information about other accessible facilities;
• implement a plan on accessibility of sidewalks and curb ramps throughout the City; and
• amend its employment policies, as necessary, to comply with the regulations of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission implementing title I of the ADA, codified at 29 C.F.R. Part 1630.

The agreement also recognizes that Atlanta has independently completed a number of steps to increase access to its programs, services, and facilities. Those steps include:

• conducted a self-assessment of its programs and facilities consistent with the spirit and intent of "Project Civic Access;"
• appointed an ADA Coordinator to address employee-related concerns, and a Disability Coordinator to insure immediate and continued focus on disability issues related to citizen concerns;
• appointed a Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator for each of its departments to assist the ADA Coordinator and Disability Coordinator in resolving disability-related grievances; and
• provided employment and job training opportunities and career development services to persons with disabilities.

The settlement agreement will remain in effect for three years from December 8, 2009.

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