FACT SHEET

          Settlement Agreement between the United States of America and Glynn County, Georgia

The Department of Justice initiated a compliance review of Glynn County, Georgia, under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in November, 2003.  An on-site survey of County programs, facilities, and services was conducted from February 23-26, 2004. 

Facilities covered by the agreement include Neptune Park, St. Simons Island Visitors Center, the Library and Island Players Theater, Fire Station #4, Glynn County Courthouse (Judicial Center), the Recreation and Parks Department, the Fire Department Administration and Training Building, Fire Department Headquarters - Fire Station #1, Blythe Island Regional Park, Blythe Community Center, the Department of Motor Vehicles Safety, the Georgia State Patrol Building, Altamaha Regional Park, and the Detention Center. The Department also reviewed the County's polling places, emergency management procedures, employment policies, sidewalks, and its 9-1-1 emergency services.  County government officials worked cooperatively with the Department throughout the investigation in order to reach a settlement agreement that sets out a plan for making physical and policy modifications required for ADA compliance.

The text of the settlement agreement specifies the particular modifications that Glynn County will make to each of the programs, services, and facilities covered by the agreement as well as the timeframes for making each change. Among other things, the County 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 of the ADA and their applicability to the County's programs, services, and activities;

• officially recognize Georgia's telephone relay service as an appropriate means for communicating by telephone with individuals who are deaf or have speech impairments and train staff in using relay service for telephone communications;

• ensure that the 9-1-1 emergency service TTY calls are answered as quickly as other calls received, that such calls are monitored for timing and accuracy to the same extent as other calls, and that employees are trained and practiced in using a TTY to make and receive calls;

• ensure that the County's official website is accessible to people with disabilities, including individuals who are blind or have low vision and use a screen reader to access websites;

• develop a method for ensuring that voters with disabilities are able to vote independently and make auxiliary aids and services available to the public upon request;

• provide equal access to all aspects of the County's emergency management programs for persons with disabilities, including emergency preparation, notification, evacuation, sheltering, response, and recovery;

• Provide information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the County's accessible services, activities, and programs;

• install signs at any inaccessible entrance to a facility directing users to an accessible entrance or to information about other accessible facilities; and

• implement a plan regarding the accessibility of sidewalks and curb ramps throughout the County.

The settlement agreement will remain in effect for 5 years from November 2, 2009, or until the parties agree that all actions required by the agreement have been completed, whichever is later.  The Department will monitor compliance with the agreement until required actions are completed.

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