U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division




Disability Rights Section
P.O. Box 66738
Washington, DC 20035-6738



June 11, 1996


Ms. Martha Mann Alfaro
Deputy Chief
Division of Legal Counsel
Law Department
The City of New York
100 Church Street
New York City, N.Y. 10007

Re: Complaint Numbers    X        and       X

Dear Ms. Alfaro:

The Department of Justice has completed its review of the new
accessibility guidelines for Town Hall meetings adopted by the
City of New York. The adoption and full implementation of the
guidelines, as well as the planned training for all appropriate
staff, help to ensure that individuals with disabilities will have
equal access to public meetings conducted by the City. The
guidelines cover not only physical accessibility to Town Hall
meetings, but also address the means of ensuring effective
communication for individuals with hearing and vision
disabilities. As we discussed, the City will provide a schedule
of upcoming Town Hall meetings for 1996. If feasible, the
Department of Justice will send a representative to attend a
meeting at a mutually agreeable date. In addition, you may wish
to consider the enclosed comments from the New York Lawyers for
the Public Interest. They should be helpful in acquainting your
staff, and persons with disabilities, of additional measures that
can be taken to increase the accessibility options for all
parties.

We appreciate the cooperation you provided in reaching a
resolution of this matter. This completes our review and we will
be closing these cases effective the date of this letter. If you

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or any staff need further guidance or information concerning the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, please feel
free to contact this office.


                                            Sincerely,



                                          Thomas Esbrook
                                      Disability Rights Section
                                        Civil Rights Division


Enclosure


cc: Ruth Lowenkron
Director
Disability Law Center
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc.


















                                                                               
        
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