WASHINGTON, D.C. - On July 24, 2002, Deputy Attorney General Larry D. Thompson and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., met with city representatives, community advocates, and residents with disabilities from Fernandina Beach, Florida, in recognition of their efforts to make Fernandina Beach more accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. The meeting held in Washington commemorates the signing into law of the ADA twelve years ago by President George H.W. Bush.
“Ensuring participation in everyday civic life for people with disabilities is a key requirement in President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative,” said Deputy Attorney General Larry D. Thompson. “We at the Department are pleased to recognize Fernandina Beach, its officials, and its residents with disabilities for the actions they have taken to make the City’s beaches and recreational areas, basic buildings, and services more accessible to people with disabilities.”
Also recognized at the meeting were the actions of three other communities, San Antonio, Texas; Springfield, Missouri, including the City of Springfield, the Springfield Library, and the Springfield Utilities; and Summers County, West Virginia.
“I commend these cities for literally opening doors to all Americans,” said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “We are committed to expanding Project Civic Access and mirroring these successes throughout the country.”
Today’s meeting recognizes the actions of Fernandina Beach in complying with the ADA under the Department’s Project Civic Access, a wide-ranging initiative to ensure that state facilities, counties, cities, towns, and villages comply with the ADA. The Project was initiated to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life, a fundamental part of American society. As part of the Project, Departmental investigators surveyed state and local government facilities and programs across the country for the purpose of negotiating modifications needed to comply with ADA requirements. To date, 51 governments across the nation, have agreed to make changes to make themselves more accessible.
The City is now the first of the PCA communities to have fully discharged its obligations under the Department’s settlement agreement. The City has fulfilled its commitments to make accessibility improvements in its City Hall, Fire Station #1, Police Department, Elm Street Recreation Center, Atlantic Avenue Recreation Center, Marina, and Golf Course. It also has posted, published, and distributed 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; and has improved its non-emergency TTY communication with citizens who are deaf by training appropriate employees and other measures.
As a result of the settlement agreement, the City built an accessible route from the shops and restaurants to a municipal dock. On its own initiative, the City made special arrangements with a local businessman, who has designed a unique, fully accessible charter fishing boat, to dock in the slip nearest the accessible ramp. Wheelchair users can now access the boat independently.
Also as a result of the settlement agreement, the City built one accessible route (beach walkover) from the street to one of the City's beaches, and, on its own, plans to construct two additional beach walkovers at opposite ends of the City. Also on its own, the City constructed a viewing area, connected to the accessible path to the beach, that is large enough to accommodate up to eight wheelchairs. In addition, the City purchased two beach wheelchairs, with appropriate signs at the accessible beach directing people to their location.
In conjunction with today’s meeting, the Division is featuring a story and photographs on Fernandina Beach and its residents in a special anniversary display on the Department’s ADA Home Page, www.ada.gov <http://www.ada.gov>.
Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the programs, services, and activities of state and local governments. Public entities must make reasonable modifications in policies that deny equal access, provide effective communication, and make their programs accessible through the removal of barriers or through alternate methods of program delivery, unless an undue burden or fundamental alteration of the program would result.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA can access the ADA home page at archive.ada.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
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