U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section

 
 
Enforcing the ADA

A Status Report from the Department of Justice
(October-December 1996)

 

 

This Status Report covers the ADA activities of the Department of Justice during the third quarter (October to December) of 1996. This report, previous status reports, and a wide range of other ADA information are now available through the Department's ADA Home Page on the World Wide Web (see page 10). The symbol (**) indicates that more information about an item is available on the ADA Home Page.

 

INSIDE...

ADA Litigation
Formal Settlement Agreements
Other Settlements
Mediation
Certification
Technical Assistance
Other Sources of ADA Information
How to File Complaints

 

1996, Issue 4

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities. The Department of Justice enforces the ADA's requirements in three areas -

Title I: Employment practices by units of State and local government

Title II: Programs, services, and activities of State and local government

Title III: Public accommodations and commercial facilities

 

I. Enforcement

Through lawsuits and both formal and informal settlement agreements, the Department has achieved greater access for individuals with disabilities in hundreds of cases. Under general rules governing lawsuits brought by the Federal Government, the Department of Justice may not file a lawsuit unless it has first unsuccessfully attempted to settle the dispute through negotiations.

A. Litigation

The Department may file lawsuits in Federal court to enforce the ADA and may obtain court orders including compensatory damages and back pay to remedy discrimination. Under title III the Department may also obtain civil penalties of up to $50,000 for the first violation and $100,000 for any subsequent violation.

1. Decisions

Jury Awards $300,000 to Former Police Officer in Reassignment Case -- The Department of Justice won a $300,000 jury award on behalf of Jack Davoll, a former Denver police officer injured in the line of duty, because Denver refused to reassign Davoll to a vacant job that he was qualified to perform -- such as criminal investigator or probation officer. The jury also found that Denver had failed to show that changing its policy to allow reassignment would impose an "undue hardship" on the City. The Denver Police Department had forced Davoll to retire after three incidents that left him with injuries to his back, neck, and shoulder.

The monetary award compensates Davoll for emotional distress and pain and suffering. The judge will later decide to which job Mr. Davoll is entitled, and he will determine the amount of back pay that Davoll will receive.

The court ruled before the trial in United States v. City and County of Denver that the ADA's requirement to make "reasonable accommodation" to employees' disabilities includes reassignment to vacant positions and imposes a duty on employers to consider reassignment. The court also found that Denver's policy of barring the reassignment of police officers with disabilities to vacant "career service" positions for which they were qualified violated the ADA.

The jury's verdict followed a seven-day trial in two consolidated cases. In addition to the case brought by the United States, three private plaintiffs, including Mr. Davoll, filed an action challenging the Police Department's refusal to reassign them to career service positions after they became disabled. Paul Escobedo and Deborah Clair were each awarded $250,000 in compensatory damages in the private suit.

NCAA is Covered by Title III -- The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ordered the National Collegiate Athletic Association to allow the University of Washington to continue to provide an athletic scholarship to Toure Butler, a college freshman with a learning disability who is a member of the University of Washington football team. Butler claims that the NCAA eligibility rules regarding high school core courses and test scores discriminate against him because of his learning disability, and that reasonable modifications in policy should be made to grant him eligibility. The Department filed an amicus brief in Butler v. National Collegiate Athletic Association arguing that the NCAA is covered by title III, because the NCAA is a private entity that "operates" places of public accommodation such as athletic training facilities and stadiums. The court agreed with the Department's position on coverage and issued a preliminary injunction.

Court Orders Line of Sight over Standing Spectators -- A Federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled, after trial in Paralyzed Veterans of America v. Ellerbe Becket Architects and Engineers, P.C., that the designs for the MCI Center, a new indoor basketball and hockey arena under construction in downtown Washington, violate the ADA's architectural requirements for newly constructed facilities. The court earlier held, as the Department urged in an amicus brief, that the requirement that wheelchair users have lines of sight to the arena floor that are comparable to those for other spectators means that wheelchair users must be able to see over other spectators when those spectators stand up. In reaching this conclusion, the court deferred to the Department's long-held position that wheelchair seating locations must provide wheelchair users with such lines of sight over standing spectators. After trial, the court ruled that the wheelchair seating locations in the arena were not adequately distributed throughout the different categories of seating -- there were too many wheelchair locations in the end zones, and too few along the sides of the court or ice. The court gave the arena owner 30 days to submit a new design for the seating bowl. The case is now on appeal.

2. New lawsuits

The Department initiated or intervened in the following lawsuits.

Title III

United States v. Ellerbe Becket, Inc. -- The Department filed suit against Ellerbe Becket, Inc., the nation's largest architectural firm, alleging that Ellerbe has engaged in a pattern or practice of illegal discrimination by repeatedly designing new sports arenas to be inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, identifies six new facilities designed by Ellerbe in which wheelchair seating locations do not provide wheelchair users with lines of sight over standing spectators -- the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio (home of the National Basketball Association's Cavaliers); the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon (home of the NBA's Trail Blazers); the Fleet Center in Boston (home of the NBA's Celtics and the National Hockey League's Bruins); the Corestates Center in Philadelphia (home of the NBA's 76ers and the NHL's Flyers); the MCI Center now under construction in Washington, D.C. (which will be the new home of the NBA's Wizards and the NHL's Capitals); and the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York (home of the NHL's Sabres). The complaint seeks civil penalties and an order compelling Ellerbe to design future arenas in compliance with the ADA.

 

3. Amicus Briefs

The Department files briefs in selected ADA cases in which it is not a party in order to guide courts in interpreting the ADA.

Title II

Title II Coverage of Correctional Facilities -- The Department filed two amicus briefs in appeals courts arguing in favor of title II coverage of correctional facilities. In Amos v. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, a case currently on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the lower court had found that the ADA did not apply to state prisons despite the broad language of the statute. In Inmates of Allegheny County Jail v. Wecht, a panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that title II of the ADA applied to State and local correctional facilities. However, the Court later withdrew the panel opinion and granted the defendants' petition for rehearing by the full court. In both cases the Department argued that the plain language of the statute, and its implementing regulations and administrative interpretations, confirm that the ADA applies to State and local correctional facilities.

 
Title III

Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition v. Nine West Group, Inc. -- The Department filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado arguing that plaintiffs do not have to exhaust administrative remedies under State nondiscrimination laws prior to filing suit under title III. The lawsuit alleges that a retail store is in violation of the barrier removal and alterations provisions of title III of the ADA.

Independent Living Resources v. Oregon Arena Corporation --- The Department filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in support of a private suit alleging that a new indoor basketball arena recently completed in Portland, Oregon -- the Rose Garden, home to the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA -- does not comply with the ADA's architectural requirements for new facilities. The suit alleges that the Rose Garden fails to provide an adequate number of wheelchair seating locations, to integrate wheelchair seating locations into the rest of the arena's seating, and to provide wheelchair seating locations that give wheelchair users lines of sight over standing spectators.

Johanson v. Huizenga Holdings -- The Department filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida solely on the issue of whether architects should be held liable under the ADA if the features of arenas that they design do not comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The suit involves the new indoor hockey arena for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League designed by the Ellerbe Becket architectural firm.

B. Formal Settlement Agreements

The Department sometimes resolves cases without filing a lawsuit by means of formal written settlement agreements.

 

Title II

Riverside County, California -- The Department reached a settlement agreement with Riverside County, California, barring use of a medical monitoring form for new employees with certain medical conditions, including a housekeeper who had elevated liver function tests and a duplicating machine operator who was taking medication for depression. By signing the form, the employee agreed to have the condition treated on an on-going basis by a physician, follow the physician's recommendations, and undergo monitoring of the condition by the county through periodic exams by the county's medical provider. The form also required the employee to acknowledge that his or her medical condition must remain under control or he or she would face possible suspension or termination. Riverside County had required at least 43 employees with various medical conditions to complete the form, but there was no evidence that it had taken disciplinary action, rescinded hiring, or taken any other adverse action against any individual who failed to comply with the conditions listed on the form or who refused to sign the form. Under the settlement agreement, Riverside County agreed to stop using all versions of the form and to destroy all copies of the form appearing in medical or other employee files.

State of Massachusetts -- The Department signed an agreement with the State of Massachusetts providing for access to Doric Hall, located in the eighteenth century section of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Doric Hall is currently inaccessible to individuals with mobility impairments because of five steps. The settlement agreement provides for alterations to Doric Hall, including the installation of a lift. Until the alterations are completed, the State has agreed to implement a policy requiring all services currently held in an inaccessible location to be relocated, upon request, to an accessible area of the State House.

** Santa Clara County, California -- The Santa Clara County Superior Court agreed to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including assistive listening systems, when necessary to ensure effective communication with hard of hearing individuals. The agreement settled a complaint that the court lacked adequate policies and procedures for providing auxiliary aids and services to hard of hearing citizens in court activities, including jury service. The court will ensure that all assistive listening equipment is adequately maintained, that policies for providing effective communication are disseminated to all court staff, and that employees are trained in carrying out the policies.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania -- The Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which hears complaints of attorney misconduct, agreed to establish a written policy for providing auxiliary aids or services and to provide qualified interpreters when necessary upon reasonable notice. The complaint alleged that the office failed to ensure effective communication with an individual who requested an interpreter in order to appeal the outcome of a complaint lodged with the office.

Ferris, Texas -- The Department entered into an agreement with the City of Ferris ensuring effective communication in interactions with the police. The police department agreed to adopt a written order for the provision of auxiliary aids, including interpreters, as appropriate.

**North Kingstown, Rhode Island -- The police department of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, agreed to adopt a formal written policy ensuring effective communication in situations involving contact between officers and members of the public who are deaf or hard of hearing. The settlement agreement resolved a complaint alleging that the police department failed to interview a deaf individual who witnessed a fatal automobile accident.

Title III

Days Inn, Johnson Creek, Wisconsin -- The Department entered into a settlement agreement with the owners and architects of a Wisconsin Days Inn to correct violations of title III "new construction" requirements. Violations included failure to provide accessible parking, accessible public areas including restrooms, accessible paths of travel to and from public areas and guest rooms, and accessible guest rooms in the various available classes of sleeping accommodations.

 

Stadium Agreement Reached in San Francisco -- Accessibility will be vastly improved at 3Com Park (formerly Candlestick Park) in San Francisco as a result of an agreement with the City of San Francisco, which owns and operates the stadium; the San Francisco Forty-Niners professional football team; and the San Francisco Giants professional baseball team. The agreement calls for a variety of modifications, including installation of a new elevator for persons with disabilities; renovations of restrooms for accessibility to persons using wheelchairs; addition of approximately 150 new wheelchair seats and companion seats; installation of assistive listening systems for patrons who are hard of hearing; accessible parking for persons with disabilities; a lift to the dugout; accessible drinking fountains and concession stands; accessible routes to the skyboxes; training for staff and contractors on disability issues and communication skills; and improved ticket policies, advertising, and community outreach to persons with disabilities. A total of $110,000 in damages were paid to individuals who complained of past discrimination, and $30,000 in civil penalties were paid to the United States.

 

C. Other Settlements

The Department resolves numerous cases without litigation or a formal settlement agreement. In some instances, the public accommodation, commercial facility, or State or local government promptly agrees to take the necessary actions to achieve compliance. In others, extensive negotiations are required. Following are some examples of what has been accomplished through informal settlements.

 
Title II

A midwestern State department of corrections agreed to provide Brailled materials and a Braille typewriter to an inmate with impaired vision.

A county supervisor of elections in Florida agreed to resurface a parking lot, sidewalk, and entrance to a polling facility to make it more accessible.

A Michigan county agreed to relocate commissioners' meetings and court proceedings to accessible locations upon request.

A suburban Detroit municipality posted a sign next to an accessible phone mounted outside the front entrance to its Police Department identifying the phone as for use by persons who are unable to use the heavy front door -- the phone is automatically answered in the police dispatch center, which is staffed 24 hours a day.

A rural Illinois town and county agreed to hold public meetings in city hall, which has an accessible back entrance, rather than in other private and public inaccessible facilities, posted appropriate signs directing wheelchair users to the accessible entrance, and renovated a restroom to be accessible.

A city in Washington State completed its self-evaluation and transition plan, implemented an accessible meeting policy, and established an ADA grievance procedure.

The municipal sheriff's department in a large California city revised its effective communication policy to include specific guidance for officers on how to deal with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

A Virginia county court developed and disseminated a policy to inform attorneys, parties, witnesses, jurors, spectators, and other individuals that auxiliary aids and services are available and that the court will provide such aids and services at the court's expense.

A small Michigan city took steps to ensure that the accessible entrance at its city hall can be unlocked when needed and installed an intercom system outside the accessible entrance to alert the police dispatch center to open the door.

 
Title III

A newly-constructed, Branson, Missouri, gas station/convenience store agreed to remove barriers and now provides van accessible parking, including proper signage, a level access aisle, and a ramp with side flares, as well as accessible hardware on the restroom door, properly shielded lavatory pipes, and correctly reinstalled grab bars.

A Tennessee hospital agreed to provide interpreters for future seminars it sponsors whether they are held at the hospital or at other locations, including hotels.

A nationwide organizer of conferences on computer technology, which makes audio recordings of conference events for sale to attendees and the general public, agreed to make the recordings of specific events attended by individuals with brain injuries (or other communication-related disabilities) available at no cost to such individuals, and to train employees so that they can better interact with individuals with disabilities.

A Texas outlet of a national department store agreed to create at least one fully accessible fitting room and to remove barriers to access in the store's restrooms.

A small-town restaurant in upstate New York modified its policies to allow patrons who use service animals access to the restaurant, and also removed architectural barriers in the parking lot and at the entrance.

A Virginia computer school agreed not to impose higher grade-point requirements for students with learning disabilities than for others.

The U.S. Attorneys obtained settlements in the following cases --

District of North Carolina -- The U.S. Attorney's Office in Raleigh entered into a formal settlement agreement with Jones County, North Carolina, resolving a complaint from a private citizen who had witnessed a person with mobility impairments using her arms to crawl up the steps of the Jones County Courthouse to attend a proceeding in the third floor courtroom. The courtroom was not accessible by any means other than stairs. The county agreed to provide a van accessible parking space with proper signs, an accessible route into the courthouse, an accessible entranceway with an automatic door opener, and accessible restrooms, water fountains, and telephones. In addition, the county agreed to make courthouse services available in accessible areas of the building.

District of Nevada -- A Reno, Nevada, sports and athletic club agreed to install appropriate signage for its alternative accessible entrance.

 

II. Mediation

Through a technical assistance grant from the Department, the Key Bridge Foundation is accepting referrals of complaints under titles II and III for mediation by professional mediators. The Foundation has trained 200 professional mediators in 35 States in the legal requirements of the ADA (** a list of localities where mediators are available is on the Department's ADA Home Page on the World Wide Web). Over 70 percent of the cases in which mediation has been completed have been successfully resolved. Following are recent examples of results reached through mediation.

A California bank agreed to install an automatic door to its offices.

A doctor in New York agreed to install a ramp to the doctor's office.

A Texas convenience store agreed to modify the doorway to an existing restroom to facilitate access.

A town in North Carolina agreed to inform independent contractors who plow snow for the town that accessible parking spaces should be plowed and left clear of snow. The town also agreed to replace all parking signs that do not comply with the ADA.

A Florida doctor's office agreed to make patient intake and checkout counters accessible, to modify a restroom to make it accessible, to install a ramp and alter doors to the office, and to create and publicize an office policy of providing accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

A Colorado video store agreed to replace a door knob with an accessible lever handle, to maintain accessible aisle space in the store, and to repaint, and provide vertical signage at, accessible parking spaces.

A Missouri college agreed to develop a plan to provide access to a historical building, including installation of a ramp. Until these changes are implemented, the college agreed to provide assistance for individuals in entering the building and to make a video describing the historical information about the building available for individuals who prefer that format. The college also agreed to install a ramp to provide access to the bleachers in its sports facility, to provide van accessible parking spaces with appropriate signage, and to train personnel to assist individuals with disabilities.

A store in South Dakota arranged for the State to provide curb cuts and a ramp into the store's parking lot. The store also agreed to create accessible parking spaces and to provide a ramp into the store.

A Maryland shopping center agreed to create accessible parking spaces.

A New Jersey professional school agreed to change its policy barring the complainant from attending because she has leukemia, to change its policy requiring the complainant to sign a special release form, and to refrain from disclosing the complainant's condition to other students.

 

** Want to Resolve Your ADA Complaint? Consider Mediation -- As part of its responsibilities under the Department's mediation grant, the Key Bridge Foundation for Education and Research has produced a brochure entitled: Want to Resolve Your ADA Complaint? Consider Mediation. The brochure explains what mediation is, its advantages and disadvantages, how the process works, and how to find a qualified mediator. The brochure is available from the ADA Information Line by calling (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TDD) and talking with an ADA Specialist.

III. Certification of State and Local Building Codes

The ADA requires that newly constructed or altered facilities comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Standards). The Justice Department is authorized to certify building codes that meet or exceed the ADA's standards. In litigation, an entity that complies with a certified code can offer that compliance as rebuttable evidence of compliance with the ADA.

In implementing its authority to certify codes, the Department works closely with State and local officials, providing extensive technical assistance to enable them to make their codes equivalent to the ADA. In addition, the Department responds to requests for review of model codes and provides informal guidance to assist private entities that develop model accessibility standards to make those standards equivalent to the ADA.

Maine -- The Department sent an initial response to the State of Maine's certification request and is working with Maine officials to resolve the remaining obstacles to certification.

Under review -- Codes from eight other jurisdictions are currently being reviewed for possible certification by the Department - Utah, New Mexico, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Maryland, the Village of Oak Park, Illinois, and the County of Hawaii. The Department is also reviewing a model building code submitted by the Building Officials and Code Administrators International.

IV. Technical Assistance

The ADA requires the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to entities and individuals with rights and responsibilities under the law. The Department encourages voluntary compliance by providing education and technical assistance to businesses, governments, and members of the general public through a variety of means. Our activities include providing direct technical assistance and guidance to the public through our ADA Information Line, developing and disseminating technical assistance materials to the public, undertaking outreach initiatives, operating an ADA technical assistance grant program, and coordinating ADA technical assistance government-wide.

 
New publications

The Section issued three new publications about the ADA and other Federal disability rights laws--

** A Guide to Disability Rights Laws provides a brief overview of eight Federal laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities, and information about whom to contact for more information about enforcement and technical assistance. Laws covered in the guide include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act.

** ADA-TA is an illustrated series of pamphlets that provide technical assistance on selected aspects of the ADA regulations and design requirements. The first issue covers Readily Achievable Barrier Removal and Van Accessible Parking.

** Commonly Asked Questions About the ADA and Law Enforcement addresses the ADA obligations of police departments in interacting with the public, including effective communication, program accessibility, and reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures, and the Architectural Barriers Act.

 
Access the ADA through Our ADA Home Page -- An ADA Home Page is operated by the Department on the Internet's World Wide Web (http://www.ada.gov/index.html). The home page provides information about:

* the toll-free ADA Information Line,

* the Department's ADA enforcement activities,

* the ADA Technical Assistance Program,

* certification of State and local building codes,

* proposed changes in ADA regulations and requirements, and

* the ADA Technical Assistance Grant Program.

and provides direct access to:

* ADA regulations and technical assistance materials (which may be viewed online or downloaded for later use), and

* links to the Department's press releases, Home Page, and ADA Bulletin Board, to bulletin boards of other Federal agencies, and to other Internet sites which have ADA information.

 
ADA Information Line

The Department of Justice operates a toll-free ADA Information Line to provide information and publications to the public about the requirements of the ADA. Automated service, which allows callers to listen to recorded information and to order publications, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ADA specialists are available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). Spanish language service is also available.

To obtain general ADA information, get answers to technical questions, order free ADA materials, or ask about filing a complaint, call:

800-514-0301 (voice)
800-514-0383 (TDD)

 
Publications and Documents

Copies of the Department's ADA regulations and publications, including the Technical Assistance Manuals for titles II and III, and information about the Department's technical assistance grant program, can be obtained by calling the ADA Information Line or writing to the address listed below. All materials are available in standard print as well as large print, Braille, audiotape, or computer disk for persons with disabilities.

Disability Rights Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P. O. Box 66738
Washington, D.C. 20035-6738

Copies of the legal documents and settlement agreements mentioned in this publication can be obtained by writing to:

Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Branch
Administrative Management Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 65310
Washington, D.C. 20035-5310
Fax: 202-514-6195

Currently, the FOI/PA Branch maintains approximately five thousand pages of ADA material. The records are available at a cost of $0.10 per page (first 100 pages free). Please make your requests as specific as possible in order to minimize your costs.

 
ADA regulations and technical assistance materials can also be downloaded from the Department's ADA Bulletin Board System (ADA-BBS) or the Internet. The ADA-BBS, which includes selected ADA documents from other agencies, can be reached by computer modem by dialing 202-514-6193 or accessed on the Internet through telnet fedworld.gov Gateway D. The ADA Home Page also provides a link to the fedworld gateway. The Department's regulations and technical assistance materials, as well as press releases on ADA cases and other issues, are available on the ADA Home Page at http://www.ada.gov/index.html.

 
How to Contact New Grant Recipients --

Last fall the Department awarded grants for new statewide projects to educate State and local government officials and small business owners about the ADA. Six organizations will conduct projects to increase ADA awareness among privately-owned businesses --

ARKANSAS

ADA Roundtable
1818 South University
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 280-0012 (Voice)
(501) 280-9262 (TDD)
Grant Contact: Christy Newman &
Roberta Sick

 IDAHO

Idaho Task Force on the ADA
1311 West Jefferson Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 344-5590 (Voice/TDD)
Grant Contact: Roger Howard

MARYLAND

Kennedy Krieger Institute
2911 East Biddle Street
Baltimore, MD 21213
(410) 550-9726 (Voice)
(410) 550-9758 (TDD)
Grant Contact: Stephen R. Baker

MINNESOTA

Minnesota State Steering Committee
c/o MCIL (Metropolitan CIL)
1600 University Avenue West, Suite 16
Minneapolis, MN 55104
(612) 646-8342 (Voice)
(612) 603-2001 (TDD)
Grant Contact: David Hancock, Interim

NEW MEXICO

Independent Living Resource Center
4401-B Lomas, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 266-5022 (Voice/TDD)
Grant Contact: Pat Logue

WISCONSIN

Easter Seal Society of Wisconsin
101 Nob Hill Road, Suite 301
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 277-8288 (Voice/TDD)
Grant Contact: Cleo Ann Eliason

Four organizations will conduct conferences for State and local government officials --

IOWA

Iowa State Association of Counties
701 E Court Avenue, Suite A
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-7181 (Voice/Relay)
Grant Contact: Melissa Pfeifer

 

MISSISSIPPI

Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
754 North President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-0601 (Voice/TDD)
Grant Contact: Mark Smith

UTAH

Easter Seal Society of Utah
638 East Wilmington Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84106-1491
(801) 486-3778 (Voice/TDD)
Grant Contact: Karen Burdine

WASHINGTON

Washington Coalition of
Citizens with DisABILITIES
4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98103-6900
(206) 461-4550 (Voice)
(206) 461-3766 (TDD)
Grant Contact: Karen Brekke

 

V. Other Sources of ADA Information

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offers technical assistance to the public concerning title I of the ADA.

For ordering documents
800-669-3362 (voice)
800-800-3302 (TDD)

For questions
800-669-4000 (voice)
800-669-6820 (TDD)

The U.S. Department of Transportation offers technical assistance to the public concerning the public transportation provisions of title II and title III of the ADA.

ADA documents and general questions
202-366-1656 (voice/relay)

ADA legal questions
202-366-1936 (voice/relay)

Complaints and enforcement
202-366-2285 (voice)
202-366-0153 (TDD)

Project ACTION
800-659-6428 (voice/relay)
202-347-3066 (voice)
202-347-7385 (TDD)

The Federal Communications Commission offers technical assistance to the public concerning title IV of the ADA.

ADA documents
202-857-3800 (voice)
202-293-8810 (TDD)

ADA questions
202-418-1898 (voice)
202-418-2224 (TDD)

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education has funded centers in ten regions of the country to provide technical assistance to the public on the ADA.

ADA technical assistance nationwide
800-949-4232 (voice & TDD)

The U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, or Access Board, offers technical assistance to the public on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines.

ADA documents and questions
800-872-2253 (voice)
800-993-2822 (TDD)

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free telephone consulting service funded by the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. It provides information and advice to employers and people with disabilities on reasonable accommodation in the workplace.

Information on workplace accommodation
800-526-7234 (voice & TDD)

VI. How to File Complaints

Title I

Complaints about violations of title I (employment) by units of State and local government or by private employers should be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Call 800-669-4000 (voice) or 800-669-6820 (TDD) to reach the field office in your area.

Titles II and III

Complaints about violations of title II by units of State and local government or violations of title III by public accommodations and commercial facilities should be filed with -

Disability Rights Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Post Office Box 66738
Washington, D.C. 20035-6738

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