1. Disability Rights
online News
U.S. Department of Justice NATION’S LARGEST PIZZA HUT
Civil Rights Division FRANCHISEE AGREES TO IMPROVE
ACCESSIBILITY AT ITS RESTAURANTS
June 2006
Issue Thirteen
On March 27, 2006, the Department signed a settlement agree-
ment with National Pizza Corporation, International, Inc. (NPC) the
Disability Rights largest franchisee of Pizza Hut restaurants in the nation. Under the
Online News agreement, 800 Pizza Hut restaurants in 25 states that are owned
is a bi-monthly update about or operated by NCP will become more accessible to people with
the Civil Rights Division’s disabilities.
activities in the area of “Too often, the ease and enjoyment of restaurant dining is not a
disability rights. The Division reality for individuals with disabilities,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant
enforces laws prohibiting
(Continued on page 2)
discrimination based on
disability in employment, DEPARTMENT UNDERTAKES
housing, access to businesses MAJOR INITIATIVE TO EDUCATE
serving the public, access to STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
government programs and AGENCIES ABOUT THE ADA
services, including voting
and public transportation, and The Department recently completed an initiative to help
unconstitutional conditions in state and local law enforcement agencies understand their
institutions of confinement. responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In an outreach mailing to 25,000 police departments, sheriff’s
offices, highway patrols, and other state and local law enforcement
In this Issue: agencies throughout the country, Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney
General for the Civil Rights Division, offered a variety of free
ADA ............................... 1 - 4 ADA publications and videotapes developed specifically for law
Fair Housing ................... 5 - 7 enforcement audiences.
“This disability rights initiative demonstrates the Department’s
Rights of
Institutionalized Persons 7 - 8 continuing commitment to help state and local governments
ADA Mediation ............ 8 - 10
– including law enforcement – understand and comply with the
ADA,” said Assistant Attorney General Kim when announcing the
ADA Outreach ............ 10 -11
initiative on May 2, 2006.
The agencies received information on how to order the
videotape “Police Response to People with Disabilities.”
This video addresses law enforcement situations involving
(Continued on page 2)

2. Disability Rights Online News
Page 2
(Pizza Hut, continued) (Law Enforcement, continued)
Attorney General for the Civil people who have mobility disabilities, mental illnesses,
Rights Division. “I commend mental retardation, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, speech
NPC for their commitment disabilities, hearing disabilities, or vision disabilities. Intended
to take the steps necessary to for roll-call training, the video is divided into eight segments
make its Pizza Hut restaurants ranging from 5 1⁄2 to 10 1⁄2 minutes in length.
accessible. These improvements The agencies also received two new compliance assistance
will allow more Americans to publications – a brochure for officers and a model policy – on how
participate and enjoy everyday to communicate effectively with people who are deaf or hard of
activities with their family and hearing. Failure to provide effective communication is the most
friends.” frequent complaint the Department receives against law enforcement
The agreement requires NPC under the ADA. The mailing explained how to obtain additional
to: 1) designate or hire a Compli- copies of these two publications, as well as other materials, from the
ance Officer who will be trained ADA Website or the ADA Information Line.
on the ADA’s accessibility In addition, a fully accessible streaming video version of “Police
requirements; 2) eliminate all Response to People with Disabilities” is avalable for viewing on the
barriers that can reasonably and ADA Website, giving web users immediate access to the video. In
feasibly be eliminated in facilities particular, public safety officers whose vehicles are equipped with
built before the ADA, meeting Internet access can quickly review the relevant segment for guidance
criteria set out in the agreement; when interacting with a person with a disability as a witness, suspect,
and 3) bring all post-ADA victim, or person in need of assistance.
facilities into compliance with For more information about this initiative, see information for
the accessibility requirements law enforcement on the ADA Website (www.ada.gov).
set out in the ADA Standards for
Accessible Design. At the 180
NPC-operated outlets that are DAY CAMP AGREES
dedicated solely to delivery and TO ADMIT CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIABETES
carry-out, have no in-restaurant
dining, and are owned by a party On April 10, 2006, the she keyed into her electronic
other than NPC, NPC will make federal court in Massachusetts insulin pump the number of
its best efforts to work with granted the Department’s carbohydrates marked on each
landlords to ensure accessibility. motion to intervene in Medley v. item of food provided by her
NPC will also build all future Town Sports International, Inc., parents for lunch and snacks.
facilities in compliance with the a case challenging a summer The consent order requires the
ADA Standards for Accessible day camp’s denial of admission camp to follow a list of specific
Design. to a child with type-1 diabetes, practices to accommodate
To assist NPC in carrying and entered a joint consent order children with diabetes and
out these obligations, on April 4, filed by the parties on March also places obligations on the
2006, the Department conducted 20. The camp had denied the children’s parents to take certain
a full day ADA training in parent’s request that camp steps to assist the camp in their
Memphis, Tennessee, for NPC staff supervise their daughter responsibilities. The order also
representatives who will imple- while she tested her blood calls for compensatory damages
ment the agreement. glucose level using a small ($25,000) and civil penalties
automated gauge and while ($5,000).

3. Disability Rights Online News
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DENTAL OFFICE WILL PROVIDE SIGN THREE FLORIDA
LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS WHEN NEEDED GAS STATIONS
WILL IMPROVE
On April 17, 2005, the Department entered a settlement ACCESSIBILITY
agreement with Modern Dental Professional, Indiana, P.C., d/b/a FOR CUSTOMERS
Monarch Dental Associates (Modern), resolving a complaint filed WITH DISABILITIES
by a woman on behalf of her husband who is deaf. The complaint
alleged that the wife requested a sign language interpreter when On March 22, 2006,
she called Modern to schedule a dental appointment for her the Department entered an
husband, who needed complex and extensive dental services. agreement with Automated
Modern refused to provide an interpreter. In the agreement, Petroleum and Energy
Modern agreed to: 1) adopt a new Effective Communication Company, Inc., the owner
Policy and an Effective Communication Assessment Form; 2) and operator of three Florida
post a sign in all of its 10 dental offices informing patients that gas stations with convenience
Modern will provide qualified sign language interpreters when stores – the Ocala Chevron
necessary for effective communication; and 3) provide mandatory Station, the Inverness Chevron
training to all of its employees on the ADA and its new Effective Station, and the Dade City
Communication Policy. CITCO Station. The complaint
alleged that the company had
failed to remove numerous
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN architectural barriers that
SERVICES AGREES TO PROVIDE prevented or restricted access
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AS NEEDED to the stations by individuals
with disabilities, including
On April 12, 2006, the to indicate on a revised intake people who use wheelchairs
Department entered into a form if a parent has a disability and people with visual
settlement agreement with and requires an interpreter for impairments. The company
the Michigan Department of effective communication; 3) agreed to a variety of steps to
Human Services (MDHS) issue a public notice regarding remove the barriers, including
resolving two complaints Title II’s applicability to adding van-accessible
filed by deaf parents who MDHS; 4) update its hotline parking spaces; reconfiguring
alleged that MDHS had numbers, its website, and entrances; rearranging
refused to provide them with other pertinent literature to furniture to provide accessible
interpreters when they were include a TTY number and the aisles; and providing
interviewed by MDHS case Michigan Relay number; and accessible restrooms by
workers during child abuse 5) train its 150 managers and widening doorways, adjusting
and neglect investigations 9,000 employees annually on the height of lavatories and
involving their children. the ADA and its requirement dispensers, and installing grab
MDHS agreed to: 1) adopt a to provide interpreters when bars and accessible hardware.
new Effective Communication necessary for effective
Policy; 2) require case workers communication.

4. Disability Rights Online News
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ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FLORIDA TAXI
HOSTS BUSINESS AND COMPANY AGREES
DISABILITY LEADERS IN CHICAGO TO TRANSPORT
PASSENGERS
On April 27, 2006, Assistant Attorney General Kim hosted an WITH SERVICE
ADA Business Connection meeting with 48 leaders of Chicago ANIMALS
business and disability organizations. The meeting, co-hosted by
Rick Waddell, President and COO, Northern Trust Corporation, On March 27, 2006, the
and Marca Bristo, President and CEO, Access Living, focused Department signed an agree-
on the many benefits of accessibility for both businesses and ment with City Cab Company
customers with disabilities. The featured speaker, Don Thompson, of Crestview, Florida, resolving
Executive Vice President and COO, McDonald’s USA, presented a complaint alleging that the
a persuasive case for developing a corporate culture and resulting company had denied taxi service
business strategies that always include customers and employees to a blind passenger because the
with disabilities. Discussion centered around accessibility issues passenger was accompanied by a
in Chicago’s retail, hospitality, and cultural organizations as well service animal. City Cab agreed
as the city’s resources to affect favorable change for people with to adopt a policy requiring all
disabilities and businesses. drivers to transport individuals
accompanied by service animals
and to provide the complainant
COMMERCIAL LANDLORD SUED with complimentary taxi services
FOR REFUSING TO LEASE for a period of one year.
TO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
SERVING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
On March 15, 2006, the and developmental disabilities. the existing tenant’s objection,
Department entered a consent Sinergia’s habilitation program Kaufman informed Sinergia that
decree with The Kaufman assists in the development of it would lease the space only if
Organization, a New York social, recreational, vocational, Sinergia agreed to use the space
property management company, and employment skills. exclusively for its administrative
resolving an allegation of According to the complaint, offices and not use any part
discrimination in commercial after Sinergia expressed its of the space to operate its day
leasing. The Department interest in leasing available habilitation program. Sinergia
alleged that the landlord had space on the second floor of a was forced to seek alternative
refused to lease available 34th Street building, and after space elsewhere and ultimately
space in a building to Sinergia, Kaufman sent Sinergia a draft accepted less desirable space in
Inc., a nonprofit organization of a lease for that space, an another building.
dedicated to serving low-income existing tenant in the building Under the consent decree,
individuals with disabilities and objected to Sinergia’s tenancy Kaufman agreed to pay
their families, because Sinergia because of the use Sinergia $175,000 in compensatory
planned to use the space to run intended to make of the space. damages to Sinergia.
a day habilitation program for The complaint alleges that,
adults with mental retardation shortly after being notified of

5. Disability Rights Online News
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MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING ACCESS FORUM IN ATLANTA
DRAWS LARGE TURNOUT
On May 16, 2006, in housing professionals, they
Atlanta, Georgia, Deputy succeeded in developing
Assistant Attorney General accessible – and profitable
Grace Chung Becker hosted the – multi-family housing
Civil Rights Division’s third complexes. These speakers
Multi-Family Housing Access demonstrated, from their
Forum program. Launched different perspectives, how
l a s t y e a r, t h e p r o g r a m ’s private housing developers can
objective is to help building Deputy Assistant Attorney successfully meet the needs
professionals understand their General Grace Chung Becker of customers with disabilities
speaking at the Access Forum
legal obligations under the while maintaining profitable
federal Fair Housing Act’s accessible to persons with enterprises.
accessibility requirements and disabilities as a result of settle- For more information
to celebrate partnerships that ments in fiscal year 2005 alone and to see photos from the
have successfully produced – lawsuits cannot and should forum, go to www.usdoj.gov/
accessible multi-family not be the only approach to fairhousing. The next forum
housing in which everyone Fair Housing Act enforcement. will be held in another major
profits – developers and Achieving compliance at the city in the fall of 2006. The
consumers alike. The theme of design and planning stages is previous forum was held in
the Atlanta event was “Good a more timely and cost effec- Dallas in November 2005.
Access is Good Business,” tive means of ensuring that the
and the program was attended housing needs of persons with
by over 120 developers disabilities are met.
and building professionals, The program also featured
government officials, and two speakers: Dr. Gary R.
individuals with disabilities Ulicny, the President and CEO
and those who work on their of Shepherd Center, a 120-
behalf. bed hospital in Atlanta, that
In her opening remarks, specializes in the treatment
Ms. Chung Becker discussed of persons with spinal cord
the need for accessible multi- injuries, brain injuries, and Dr. Gary R. Ulicny, President of
family housing, pointing out other neuromuscular disorders; Sheperd Center, with Deputy
that more than 50 million and Margaret Shaw, partner Assistant Attorney General
Grace Chung Becker
Americans, or 18 percent of at Tekoa Pa r t ners, Ltd., a
our population, live with some d evelo p e r of m a r ket r a t e
form of disability. She empha- and affordable multi-family
sized that although the Civil housing based in Austin, Texas.
Rights Division has obtained These speakers described how,
great results – 12,000 housing through partnerships between
units in 17 states are to be made disability organizations and

6. Disability Rights Online News
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HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHERS TO PAY
$125,000 TO SETTLE DISABILITY LAWSUIT
On April 4, 2006, the settlement of the Department’s Limerick, and the 39 ground
disability-discrimination lawsuit against the owners and floor units at Lakeview
managers of the Westminster Square Apartments, in San Antonio, Apartments in Royerstown
Texas, was approved by the federal court. The Department had lack accessible features
alleged that the defendants – the Housing Authority of the City required by the Fair Housing
of San Antonio, the San Antonio Housing Facility Corporation, Act. The Department also
Pat Matherly, and the Pilgrim Allena Housing Development alleged that the public and
Corporation Occupancy – violated the Fair Housing Act common use areas of these
when they refused repeated requests by Antonio and Josefina complexes lack required
Maldonado to transfer to a first floor apartment. Antonio accessible features, and that
Maldonado, a double leg amputee who uses a wheelchair, and the rental offices of these
his wife Josefina Maldonado, who is also disabled, asked on complexes lack the accessible
several occasions to move from their third floor unit to a first features required by the
floor unit so that they would not be dependent on the elevators Americans with Disabilities
and would not have to travel as far to get to their apartment. Act.
The complaint alleged that the defendants denied the requests S p e c i f i c a l l y, t h e
despite the availability of two apartments on the first floor. Department alleges that the
The settlement requires the defendants to transfer the public and common use areas
Maldonados to a first floor apartment, to pay $125,000 in and rental offices are not
damages and attorneys’ fees to the Maldonados and the Fair readily accessible to and usable
Housing Council of Greater San Antonio, a fair housing by people with disabilities;
organization that assisted them, to implement a comprehensive doors in the ground floor units
reasonable accommodation policy, to attend fair housing are not wide enough to allow
training, and to comply with other injunctive relief. passage for a person who
uses a wheelchair; accessible
routes within covered units
DEPARTMENT SUES DEVELOPERS, are not provided; bathroom
ARCHITECTS, AND ENGINEERS walls lack reinforcement for
OF PHILADELPHIA-AREA APARTMENTS the later installation of grab
bars; bathrooms and kitchens
On March 31, 2006, the ground floor units at Abram’s are not wide enough to permit
Department filed a federal Run Apartments in King of use of a wheelchair; and
lawsuit alleging disability Prussia, the 79 ground floor environmental controls and
discrimination by the units at Henderson Square outlets are not in accessible
developers, architects, and Apartments I and II also locations. The suit seeks
engineers of six multi-family in King of Prussia, the 87 injunctive relief, monetary
residential complexes in ground floor units at Fox damages for those harmed by
the Philadelphia area. The Ridge Apartments and Fox the lack of accessibility, and
Department alleges that the 95 Ridge Lakeside Apartments in civil penalties.

7. Disability Rights Online News
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ILLINOIS COURT AGREES
TO LET FAIR HOUSING LAWSUIT PROCEED
On March 6, 2006, a federal court in Chicago, Illinois, filed in the United States
denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the Department’s District Court for the Central
Fair Housing Act lawsuit against the Village of South Elgin. District of California and
The Department alleges that the municipality discriminated will be supervised by a court-
against Unity House, a “sober home” providing a supportive appointed monitor.
environment for recovering alcoholics and drug users, “Individuals in the care
by denying it a permit to house up to nine residents. The of the State are entitled to
Department alleges that the Village Board’s actions were taken be safe and provided with
on account of the disability of the residents, and that they adequate services to promote
amounted to a failure to make a reasonable accommodation. their mental health and
The defendants moved to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds rehabilitation,” said Wan
that, in seeking a reasonable accommodation, Unity House J. Kim, Assistant Attorney
had not complied with the procedural requirements of state General for the Civil Rights
zoning law. In denying the motion, the court agreed with the Division. “We applaud the
Department that even assuming this to be true, the Department leadership of state officials
could still prevail under an intentional discrimination theory, in acting promptly to remedy
and whether Unity House complied with the state law involves the problems and implement
disputed issues of fact. The order is posted at http://www.usdoj. the reforms embodied in the
gov/crt/housing/documents/elginorderdenied1.pdf. agreement.”
“A mental health patient in
many ways is more vulnerable
DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT than other citizens, and
WITH FOUR CALIFORNIA STATE HOSPITALS therefore particularly needs
TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS to be protected from undue
harm,” said United States
On May 2, 2006, the in San Luis Obispo – provide Attorney Debra Wong Yang.
Department announced a inpatient psychiatric care to “The settlement will lead these
settlement with the State of nearly five thousand people well-known and often-used
California regarding conditions committed to the hospitals. hospitals to enact sweeping
at four state hospitals serving The extensive reforms changes that will improve the
individuals with mental required by the five-year lives of hundreds of patients.”
disabilities from around the agreement will ensure that T h e D e p a r t m e n t ’s
state. The four hospitals individuals in the hospitals four-year investigation
– Metropolitan State Hospital are adequately protected under the Civil Rights of
in Los Angeles, Napa State from harm and are provided Institutionalized Persons Act
Hospital in Napa, Patton State adequate services to support revealed significant civil
Hospital in San Bernardino, their recovery and mental rights violations at each of the
and Atascadero State Hospital health. The agreement was hospitals. The Department

8. Disability Rights Online News
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(State Hospitals, continued)
found a pattern and practice
of preventable suicides and ADA MEDIATION HIGHLIGHTS
serious, life threatening
assaults on residents by staff The ADA Mediation $8,000 in compensation to the
and other residents. Care Program is a Department- complainant, and to pay the
p r o v i d ed at the hospitals sponsored initiative intended complainant’s legal fees of
departed substantially to resolve ADA complaints in $20,000.
from generally accepted an efficient manner. Mediation
professional standards, and cases are initiated upon In Minnesota, a person
individuals were not served referral by the Department who is deaf complained that a
in the most integrated settings when both the complainant doctor’s office failed to provide
appropriate to their needs and the respondent agree to sign language interpreter
and the requirements of participate. The program services for an appointment.
court-ordered confinements, utilizes professional mediators The doctor agreed to provide
in violation of the Americans who are trained in the legal interpreters when necessary
with Disabilities Act. The requirements of the ADA and added telephone numbers
State has agreed to address and has proven effective in of interpreters to the office
and correct all of the violations resolving complaints at less telephone roster. The doctor
identified by the Department. cost and in less time than also disciplined the employee
The Department has traditional investigations or who refused to provide the
successfully resolved similar litigation. Over 75% of all interpreter and apologized to
investigations of other mental complaints mediated have the complainant.
health facilities in North been settled successfully.
Carolina, New York, Hawaii, In Mississippi, a man who
and Tennessee. The California In this issue, we highlight uses a wheelchair complained
settlement is available online. complaints against health that a medical laboratory
care providers that have been was inaccessible and so it
successfully mediated. conducted his outpatient lab
work in the waiting room
In California, the mother in front of other patients.
of an adolescent with Down The hospital that owns the
Syndrome complained that laboratory agreed to alter a
a physical therapy provider room to provide accessible
refused to serve her child private and confidential
because of his disability. laboratory services to patients
The respondent agreed to who use wheelchairs.
conduct ADA training at all
of its affiliated companies, In Georgia, a deaf
to establish a central hotline individual complained that
t o a d d r e s s a n y f u t u r e a d o c t o r ’s o ff i c e r e f u s e d
complaints quickly, to pay to provide a sign language

9. Disability Rights Online News
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(ADA Mediation, continued)
interpreter for an appointment. persons who are deaf and at the entrance, appropriate
The office agreed to provide hard of hearing, including signage designating accessible
appropriate auxiliary aids contact information for local parking, and grab bars in the
and entered into a contract interpreters. rest room and exam room.
with an interpreting service.
In addition, the office posted I n N o r t h C a ro l i n a , a In Michigan, a woman
signage indicating that person who uses a wheelchair who is deaf complained that
assistance will be provided to complained that the interior a d o c t o r ’s o ff i c e r e f u s e d
persons with disabilities upon of an eye doctor ’s office to provide a sign language
request. was inaccessible. The office interpreter for an appointment,
agreed to widen the doorway instead requiring her to bring
In Pennsylvania, a between the examination a family member to serve as
person who uses a wheelchair room and the hallway, remove an interpreter. The doctor
complained that the entrance protruding cabinet doors in the agreed to provide effective
to a doctor’s office was not examination room to provide communication, including sign
accessible. While the parties additional maneuvering space, language interpreter services,
agreed that it was not readily and remove chairs from the for appointments. The doctor
achievable to remove the hallway and examination also agreed to instruct staff on
barriers to this office, the rooms. procedures on how to respond
doctor agreed to install a ramp to a request for sign language
at the entrance of his second In Florida, a person who interpreter services.
office. He agreed to inform is deaf alleged that a doctor’s
people with disabilities of the office did not provide effective In California, a person
location of his second office communication during an who uses a service animal
and to reimburse them for any office visit. The doctor’s office complained that she was denied
extra transportation costs. developed and implemented access to the examination room
a written policy for all office in a doctor’s office because
A deaf couple in Nevada staff members outlining the the staff believed that the area
complained that a health care procedure for providing sign would be contaminated by
provider in a remote area did language interpreter services the dog. The doctor modified
not provide a sign language when needed. the office policy to allow
interpreter for an appointment. service animals access to the
The doctor agreed to provide In Georgia, a person who examination room.
interpreters when requested uses a wheelchair complained
a n d t h e p a r t i e s w o r k e d that a doctor ’s office was In Nevada, a person
together to identify potential i n a c c e s s i b l e b e c a u s e i t who is deaf complained
interpreters in the area. In lacked a ramp, an accessible t h a t a d e n t i s t ’s o f f i c e
addition, the doctor agreed to restroom, and an accessible refused to provide effective
write a letter to all the other exam room. The landlord communication during an
medical practitioners in the and tenant worked together o ff i c e v i s i t . T h e d e n t i s t
area about how to provide to resolve the complaint and agreed to institute a policy
effective communication to installed a new concrete ramp ensuring compliance with the

10. Disability Rights Online News
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(ADA Mediation, continued)
ADA and to attend training on language interpreter for an
both the requirements of the initial visit. The physician’s On April 10-12, Division
ADA and disability awareness. o ff i c e a g r e e d t o p r o v i d e staff conducted three
She also agreed to join with interpreters and other auxiliary workshops at the National
a disability rights lawyer in aids for patients when needed ADA Symposium and EXPO
conducting four presentations and further agreed that, if in St. Louis, Missouri. The
for professional organizations a patient requires an urgent first session outlined the
on the ADA and dentists, referral to a specialist or responsibilities of an ADA
wrote a letter of apology to h o s p i t a l , t h e p h y s i c i a n ’s C o o r d i n a t o r, t h e s e c o n d
the complainant, and agreed office will coordinate efforts provided an update on the
to pay the complainant $100. to ensure that the auxiliary aid Division’s ADA activities, and
needed by the patient will be the third provided an overview
In Pennsylvania, a person provided. of Project Civic Access and
filed a complaint on behalf other Department initiatives.
of her grandmother who is In Virginia, a person who Sponsored by the 10 Regional
a wheelchair user, alleging uses a wheelchair complained ADA & IT Centers and
that a doctor’s office failed to that a medical center refused hosted by the Great Plains
provide accessible parking. to treat her during a scheduled Center, the conference was
The doctor agreed to restripe appointment because they said attended by more than 500
the parking lot to create they could not lift her onto the people, including state and
accessible parking and to examining table. The medical local government officials,
create an accessible path of center completed a survey of persons with disabilities,
travel from the parking lot to current examination tables and business owners, attorneys and
the office. developed a capital budget and architects.
timeline to purchase accessible
In Illinois, a person who exam tables. It also provided On April 17 and 18,
is deaf complained that a t r a i n i n g t o s t a ff o n A D A Division staff made three
medical specialist’s office requirements. presentations at Ohio State
refused to provide a sign University’s annual conference
on Multiple Persp e c t i v e s
on Access, Inclusion, and
RECENT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES Disability, held in Columbus,
Ohio. One session addressed
On March 29-31, Division providing an overview of how a law school class project
staff made three presentations the requirements of the ADA led to both the founding of
at “The Road Ahead,” the and section 504 in higher an advocacy law center and
a n n u a l c o n f e r e n c e o f t h e education, and participated in a career in public service.
A s s o c i a t i o n f o r H i g h e r two break-out sessions – a case A second session, “Justice
E d u c a tion and Disability law update and an overview in Higher Education,” co-
Virginia, held in Roanoke, of the Justice Department’s presented with the president of
Virginia. Staff co-presented compliance reviews. Disability Access Information
at a pre-conference session, and Support (DAIS), addressed

11. Disability Rights Online News
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(Outreach, continued)
t h e D e p a r t m e n t ’s r o l e i n audience of architects, city On April 24 through 27,
access to higher education. planners, disability advocates, Division staff made several
The third, “Where to Tell local civil rights enforcement presentations at the conference
Your Story,” provided an officials, and others at Stetson of the National Association
overview of various agencies’ University in Tampa, Florida. of ADA Coordinators in
responsibilities and included This training followed a one- Phoenix, Arizona. Topics
a question and answer session day training on accessibility of these presentations were:
with representatives of EEOC, requirements under the Fair Understanding the ABC’s for
the Department of Education, Housing Act. Together, the Accessibility Compliance;
the Department of Health and sessions were sponsored by the Practical Strategies to Avoid
Human Services, and the Ohio Department of Housing and Accessibility Charges and
Civil Rights Commission. Urban Development as part of Litigation; Blueprints and
its celebration of April as Fair Best Practices for ADA
On April 19, Division Housing Month. Both sessions Coordinators; Emergency
staff conducted training were geared towards recovery Management Major Emerging
through a webcast sponsored after a hurricane, flood, or ADA Issue; Issues in Title I
by the Independent Living other natural disaster. Enforcement; and an update
R e s e a r c h U t i l i z a t i o n ’s on the Section’s enforcement
Disability Law Resource O n A p r i l 2 1 - 2 3 , t h e activities under titles I, II, and
Project, a grant project funded D i v i s i o n s t a ff e d a n A D A III of the ADA.
by the National Institute on booth at the Abilities Expo
Disability and Rehabilitation Conference in Edison, New
Research. The presentation J e r s e y. S t a f f a n s w e r e d
provided information on the questions and disseminated
Department’s Project Civic ADA information to the
Access, an initiative designed conference’s 6000 attendees.
to increase the accessibility to
local government programs On April 23 -26, the
and facilities for persons with Division staffed a booth and
disabilities. provided ADA technical
assistance at the First Annual
On April 22, Division Conference of the National
staff conducted an all-day Organization of Hispanics
training entitled “Rebuilding In Law Enforcement, held in
Communities: Accessibility Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Requirements Under the
ADA and Section 504” to an