Woodstock, Vermont Restaurant The Prince And The Pauper Takes Steps To Comply With The Americans With Disabilities Act

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announces that the owners of The Prince and the Pauper restaurant and the building in which it is located at 24 Elm Street Woodstock, Vermont have agreed to complete specific modifications to come into compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Title III of the ADA prohibits a public accommodation from denying an individual or a class of individuals, on the basis of a disability, the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of an entity. Title III requires a public accommodation to remove architectural barriers to access in existing facilities where it is readily achievable to do so. The United States Attorney’s Office’s investigation began following a complaint made to the Vermont Human Rights Commission regarding the accessibility of The Prince and the Pauper.

An onsite survey of The Prince and the Pauper performed by United States Department of Justice architects revealed ADA compliance issues related to the restaurant’s entrance, route from the entrance to the bar and dining areas, the bar and dining areas, and the toilet rooms. The Prince and the Pauper will remedy the agreed upon ADA compliance issues by May 31, 2014.

The Prince and the Pauper’s owners and the owner of the building in which the restaurant is located recognized their obligation to address the issues identified in the onsite survey. Vincent Talento, Christopher Balcer, and Don Bourdon are to be commended for their cooperation with the Office of the United States Attorney.

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont worked in partnership with Tracey Tsugawa of the Vermont Human Rights Commission in addressing and resolving these important civil rights issues. Assistant United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest, with assistance from the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, handled this matter on behalf of the United States and is working with other Vermont businesses to resolve their ADA compliance issues. Further information on the ADA and its requirements may be found at www.ada.gov.