FACT SHEET

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

 

On July 24, 2012, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with  Randolph County, Georgia under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The Department of Justice initiated a compliance review of Randolph County, Georgia in July, 2011, 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.  An on-site survey of the County's buildings, programs, and services was conducted in August, 2011.  County staff worked cooperatively with the Department throughout the compliance review process in order to reach an agreement.

Facilities and programs surveyed by the Department and covered by the agreement include:  Randolph County Government Center, Randolph-Clay M.R. Service Center, Neighborhood Service Center, Randolph County Senior Center, Randolph County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Center, Randolph County Agriculture Building, Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Randolph County Magistrate Court and State Probation Office, Randolph County Sheriff's Department, Carnegie Fire Station, Coleman Fire Station, Burney Road Fire Station, Jack and Anna Mote Fire Station, and Marvin Fire Station.

The Department also reviewed County policies and procedures regarding emergency management, voting, and sidewalk maintenance to evaluate whether persons with disabilities have an equal opportunity to utilize these programs; and the County Police Department's policies and procedures regarding providing effective communication to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Under the agreement announced today, Randolph County will take several important steps to improve access for individuals with disabilities.  The text of the settlement agreement specifies the particular modifications the 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, restrooms, service counters, and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities.
• Survey other facilities and programs and make modifications wherever necessary to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements.

• 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 or hire an ADA Coordinator.

• Adopt an ADA grievance procedure.
• Train County staff in using the Georgia Relay Service as a key means of communicating with individuals who are deaf, are hard-of-hearing, or have speech disabilities.
• Ensure that the County's official website and other web-based services are accessible to persons with disabilities.

• Develop policies and procedures and perform necessary planning to ensure that individuals with disabilities are afforded equal, integrated access to emergency management programs, including emergency preparedness, notification, evacuation, sheltering, response, clean up, and recovery.
• Develop a method for providing 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 individuals with disabilities to an accessible entrance or to information about accessing programs and services at other accessible facilities.
• Implement a plan to ensure the accessibility of sidewalks and curb ramps throughout Randolph County, Georgia.

• Provide direct access via TTY (text telephone) or computer-to-telephone emergency services, including 9-1-1 services, for persons who use TTYs and computer modems.

Randolph County, Georgia was established in 1828 and is located in southwest Georgia approximately 57 miles south of Columbus. The County seat is Cuthbert.  According to census data, the County has a total population of 7,791 and approximately 27.3 percent of residents have a disability.

The Settlement Agreement will remain in effect for three years from July 24, 2012.  The Department will actively monitor compliance with the agreement until it has confirmed that all required actions have been completed.

 

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