FACT SHEET

Settlement Agreement between the United States of America
and
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

On May _, 2010, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The investigation of Lancaster County was initiated by a title II complaint filed by a military veteran with a physical and hearing disability who could not access county court proceedings, or the restroom in the courthouse, because of architectural barriers at several court facilities and the failure of the county to provide an assistive listening system.

The investigation of this complaint was broadened into a compliance review under 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 and review process in order to reach an agreement.

Under the agreement announced today, Lancaster County will take several important steps to improve access for individuals with disabilities, including the following:

• 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. The agreement specifies which modifications will be made at each facility.
• Provide increased access to county court croceedings by constructing two fully accessible District Justice Offices, centrally located within the County, within one year of the effective date of this agreement.
• 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.
• Appoint an ADA Coordinator to coordinate the County's effort to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under the ADA.
  
• Adopt a grievance procedure to handle grievances submitted under the ADA.
• Develop a policy regarding auxiliary aids and services for use in the Lancaster County Courthouse and Magistrates' Offices, purchase assistive listening systems, train personnel in the set-up, use, and maintenance of the system, and post notices notifying patrons of the availability of the system.
• Pay $1,000 to the complainant.

The text of the settlement agreement specifies all steps that will be taken and the time frames for taking them.

The actions required by the settlement agreement will be completed within 3 years from June 9, 2010.

Project Civic Access | archive.ADA.gov Home Page

June 14, 2010