FACT SHEET

Settlement Agreement between the United States of America

and Fayette County, Pennsylvania

On August 5, 2009, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with Fayette County, Pennsylvania, under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, and the Department's implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35, as well as section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and the Department's implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 42, Subpart G.

The Department initiated a compliance review of Fayette County in August, 2006, as part of Project Civic Access, a Department initiative to ensure greater access for persons with disabilities to state and local government programs, services, activities, and facilities. County staff worked cooperatively with the Department throughout the investigation in order to reach an agreement that sets out a detailed plan for improving access for individuals with disabilities.

Department investigators, architects, and attorneys conducted an on-site survey of County buildings, parks, programs, and services. Facilities covered by the agreement include: Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation, Fayette County Children and Youth Services Building, Fayette County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Program, Fayette County Prison Annex, Fayette County Fairgrounds, Federal Building, and the Public Services Building.

The Department also reviewed Fayette's policies and procedures regarding effective communication, employment, and sidewalks, as well as the Fayette County Sheriff's Department's policies and procedures regarding effective communication to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and access to the County's 9-1-1 emergency communication system.

The text of the settlement agreement specifies the modifications Fayette will be making to its programs, services, and facilities. Among other things, the County will:

• make physical modifications to its buildings and parks so that parking, routes into buildings, routes between the different elements of parks, restrooms, and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities;
• ensure effective communication in the County's programs and services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and for persons who are blind or have low vision;
• ensure equal access to its 9-1-1 emergency communication system for people who are deaf, are hard of hearing, and have speech impairments and use TTY's for communication;
• provide accessible polling places;
• ensure equal access to its emergency management program and services so that people with disabilities;
• maintain and install curb ramps so that sidewalks are accessible to persons who use wheelchairs;
• post, publish, and distribute a notice to inform members of the public of the provisions of title II and their applicability to the County's programs, services, and activities;
• officially recognize the Pennsylvania relay service, and train staff in using the relay service and a TTY;
• ensure that the County's official website is accessible to people with disabilities, including people who are blind or have low vision;
• post, publish, and distribute a notice to inform members of the public of the provisions of title II and their applicability to the County's programs, services, and activities;
• provide information to the public concerning the existence and location of the County's accessible services, activities, and programs; and
• install signs at any inaccessible entrance to a facility directing persons with disabilities to an accessible entrance or to information about other accessible facilities.

Fayette County is located in Western Pennsylvania, close to Virginia. According to Census data, the County is the home to 145,651 residents, including 34,597 individuals with disabilities. The County seat is Uniontown. The County was founded in 1783 and was the birthplace of General George C. Marshall. The Big Mac was invented in Fayette County, at a local restaurant in Uniontown.

The settlement agreement will remain in effect for three years from August 5, 2009.

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