On the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, the Justice Department Signs Agreement to Bring the Promise of the ADA to Lumpkin County, Georgia

The Department of Justice announced an agreement today under its Project Civic Access (PCA) initiative with Lumpkin County, Georgia, to address accessibility issues in the county’s services, programs, activities and facilities under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department’s celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the ADA – ADA 25: Advancing Equal Access – culminates today in a convening of ADA pioneers, advocates, persons with disabilities and dignitaries to commemorate the enactment of this historic civil rights law.

PCA was initiated to ensure that persons with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life, a fundamental part of American society.  As part of the PCA initiative, Justice Department investigators, attorneys and architects survey state and local government facilities, services and programs in communities across the country to identify the modifications needed for compliance with ADA requirements.

Today’s agreement will allow people with disabilities to participate in and benefit from the services provided in Lumpkin County’s facilities including the Justice Center, Mental Health Center, Law Enforcement Center, Senior Center, Community Pavilion, the Health Department, the Administration Building, the Animal Shelter and library.  Lumpkin County will renovate and remediate everything from entrances, service areas, counters, restrooms and parking so that people with disabilities can get into county buildings and use the services and programs offered by the county in each of its buildings. 

“The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26^th 1990,” said head of the Civil Rights Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta.  “Today, as we gather to remember, honor, and celebrate the ADA’s 25^th Anniversary, it is fitting that we sign this agreement.  It reminds us that when it comes to the civil rights of persons with disabilities, the work never stops.  I congratulate Lumpkin County, who has worked cooperatively with the department to come to this agreement and has demonstrated its commitment to serve its citizens with disabilities.”

In addition, Lumpkin County will take several important steps to improve access for individuals with disabilities, including:

• Ensuring that all of its webpages comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.0;

• Officially recognizing Georgia telephone relay service as a key means of communicating with individuals who are deaf, are hard-of-hearing or have speech impairments and training staff in using the relay service for telephone communications;

• Surveying other facilities and programs and making modifications under the supervision of an Independent Licensed Architect to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements;

• Ensuring that buildings and outdoor facilities that will be built or altered by or on behalf of the county comply with the ADA’s architectural requirements; and

• Providing information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the county’s accessible services, activities and programs.

For more information about the ADA, today’s agreement or the PCA, individuals may access the ADA Web page at http://www.ada.gov/civicac.htm or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).