FACT SHEET

Settlement Agreement between the United States of America

and

Van Buren County, Arkansas

On June 28, 2011, the Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement with  Van Buren County, Arkansas under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The Department of Justice initiated this matter as a compliance review of Van Buren County, Arkansas, under Project Civic Access, an initiative of the Department of Justice to ensure greater access for persons with disabilities to state and local government programs, services, activities, and facilities.

Facilities and programs surveyed by the Department and covered by the agreement include: Van Buren County Courthouse, Van Buren County Courthouse Annex, Van Buren County Animal Shelter, Van Buren County Detention Center, Van Buren County Child Care Center, Van Buren County Juvenile Court Office, Van Buren County Library, Van Buren County Prosecutor's Office, Van Buren County Health Department, and Van Buren County Solid Waste and Recycling Center.

The compliance review included the Department's review of the County's policies and procedures regarding emergency management, voting, and sidewalk maintenance to evaluate whether persons with disabilities have an equal opportunity to utilize these programs.  The Department also reviewed 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, Van Buren County will take several important steps to improve access for individuals with disabilities.  The text of the settlement agreement specifies the particular modifications that Van Buren 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. The agreement specifies which modifications will be made at each facility;
• 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;
• Ensure that the County's official website and other web-based services are accessible to people 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;
• 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 the County; and
• 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.

Van Buren County, Arkansas, established in 1833, is located in north central Arkansas approximately 70 miles from Little Rock. The County was named after President Martin Van Buren and the County seat is Clinton. The County is located in the Ozark Mountain region and contains the nationally known Natural Bridge of Arkansas which is 100 feet long, 50 feet high, and 4 feet thick.  Approximately 28.6 percent of Van Buren County residents have a disability and will benefit from this agreement.

The settlement agreement will remain in effect for three years from June 28, 2011, or until all actions required by the agreement have been completed, whichever is later.  The Department will actively monitor compliance with the agreement, which will remain in effect until the Department has confirmed that all required actions have been completed.

June 28, 2011