FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1995                          (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


    DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN AGREES WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
         TO BECOME ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES


     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  People with disabilities in eight
western states will now have full access to 31 Gibson's Discount
Centers, a discount department store chain, under an agreement
reached today with the Justice Department.  
     The agreement, which still must be approved by the U.S.
District Court in Wichita, Kansas, resolves a complaint filed
with the Justice Department alleging that the department chain
violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The
complaint claimed the stores lacked parking spaces, restrooms,
and checkout aisles that are accessible to people with
disabilities.
     Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against
individuals with disabilities by public accommodations, such as
department stores.  It requires businesses to remove
architectural barriers to access when it is "readily achievable,"
or can be done without much difficulty or expense.  The law also
requires that any construction or alterations comply with certain
federal guidelines if they are completed after the law went into
effect in January 1992.
     "In rural areas entire communities depend on stores like
Gibson's for the necessities of daily life," said Assistant
Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick.  "People with
disabilities in these rural areas will now have access to those
things that others take for granted."   
     Under the agreement, Gibson's will:
    make all of its stores fully accessible by providing
     accessible parking, restrooms, and checkout aisles;

    ensure that entrances to each of its stores are accessible
     and build at least one accessible fitting room in every
     store; and,

    pay $15,000 in compensatory damages to the complainant and
     $30,000 in civil penalties to the U.S. Treasury.

 
     "We are committed to enforcing the law and hope that all
businesses will voluntarily take steps to make their facilities
accessible," added Patrick.  "We hope all businesses understand
the importance of the ADA to the lives of real people."
     In a complaint filed together with today's settlement, the
Justice Departmnet alleged the chain failed to make its
facilities accessible and made inaccessible alterations to
several of its stores after the ADA went into effect.
     Gibson's are located in the following states: Colorado (11),
Kansas (8), Montana (3), Nebraska (3), and Texas (3), New Mexico
(1), Oklahoma (1) and South Dakota (1).
     Last year Attorney General Janet Reno launched a national
campaign to educate Americans about their rights and obligations
under the ADA.  She is committed to reaching out to businesses to
urge voluntary compliance with the law.  The campaign, which
included television and radio public service announcement,
advertises a toll-free ADA Information Line.  The number is 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).
     Gibson's are located in the following states: Colorado (11),
Kansas (8), Montana (3), Nebraska (3), and Texas (3), New Mexico
(1), Oklahoma (1) and South Dakota (1).
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