FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1996                         (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS GRANTS TO 10 STATE
ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROMOTE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Organizations in 10 states across the country were awarded $450,000 in grants to help teach local businesses and governments about how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Justice Department announced today.

The grants will be given to state-based organizations who will reach out to businesses through regularly scheduled meetings and by conducting statewide conferences on the ADA for state and local government officials. The Department funded similar projects in 16 states in 1995.

"These grants will bring information about the ADA directly to local businesses and governments," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick. "Access to information about cost-effective, practical ADA solutions is key to complying with the ADA."

Organizations in Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Wisconsin will conduct statewide projects to educate small businesses both about the variety of ADA resources available locally, regionally, and from the federal government, as well as the basic requirements of title III of the ADA. Title III requires public accommodations and commercial facilities to make their facilities and services acccesible to persons with disabilities. The groups will also speak at local Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, Restaurant Associations, and other organizations.
Today's small business education grants were awarded to:
 ADA Roundtable, Little Rock, Arkansas;
 Easter Seal Society of Wisconsin, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin;
 Idaho Task Force on the ADA, Boise, Idaho;
 Independent Living Resource Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico;
 Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland;
 Minnesota State Steering Committee with the Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Four additional organizations received funding to conduct statewide ADA information-sharing conferences for local and State government officials in the states of Iowa, Mississippi, Utah, and Washington. The conferences will educate government officials about the requirements of title II of the law and the resources available on the ADA. Title II applies to all activities, programs and services of state and local governments.
These statewide information-sharing grants were awarded to:
 Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, Jackson, Mississippi;
 Easter Seal Society of Utah, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah;
 Iowa State Association of Counties, Des Moines, Iowa;
 Washington Coalition of Citizens with DisABILITIES, Seattle, Washington.

Through previous grants, the Department has funded the development of materials aimed at specific types of businesses and state and local government officials. A collection of these and other ADA materials are now available in 15,000 local public libraries.

The ADA, enacted in 1990, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. The Department operates a toll-free ADA Information Line for people to call to obtain answers to questions they may have about the ADA. The numbers are 1-800-514-0301 (Voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD). Information can also be obtained from the Department's ADA home page at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm.
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