Department of Justice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1997 (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888 WALT DISNEY WORLD AGREES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING GUESTS WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The magic of Walt Disney World and Disneyland will be available to millions of Americans who are deaf and hard-of-hearing under an agreement reached today between the Justice Department and Walt Disney World. Today's agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can fully enjoy the services and facilities at the two parks. The agreement calls for providing sign language interpreters and captioning systems for Disney attractions, including more than 100 moving rides, parades and staged performances. "Walt Disney World is combining its tradition of innovation with a commitment to ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing people can experience Disney's magic," said Deval L. Patrick, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "We hope that all of America's theme parks will use innovation and cooperation to open their doors, too. This is a great example of the public and (MORE) - 2 - private sectors working together to remove barriers to communication for all people." Under the agreement, which covers "The Magic Kingdom," Epcot, and MGM-Disney in Orlando, Florida, as well as Disneyland in Anaheim, California, the company will: * provide regularly scheduled interpreter services at designated attractions, and make the schedule available to guests; * provide interpreters at specified attractions on specified dates, provided guests request such services at least two weeks in advance; * provide captioning for designated attractions; * advertise the availability of interpreters, captioning, and assistive listening devices; and, * train all Guest Services employees about providing services and responding to requests and complaints by deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. Before reaching the agreement, Disney began captioning or interpreting some of its presentations and offering assistive listening systems, which increase volume for hard-of-hearing guests. Disney will also use Rear Window Captioning. Under this innovative approach, individuals can look through a plexiglass window at their seat to view the text. The captioning would not be visible to others in the audience. After hearing concerns from deaf patrons, the Department began working with the Walt Disney Company to ensure the facilities are fully accessible. (MORE) - 3 - The ADA, passed in July of 1990, prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. Title III of the Act applies to public accommodations, including amusements parks and other places of recreation. The ADA guarantees equal access to public accommodations for individuals with various disabilities. For more information about this agreement, or about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact the ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD), or access the ADA home page on the world wide web at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ ada/adahom1.htm. # # # 96-021 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WALT DISNEY WORLD CO. UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF AUXILIARY AIDS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD This Agreement between Walt Disney World Co. (WDW) and the United States Department of Justice (Department) is the culmination of an on-going and mutually beneficial process to make WDW more accessible to persons with hearing impairments. The background and procedure that has led to this agreement is both illuminating and instructive in terms of the benefits to be derived from collaborative efforts between private industry and the government. Prior to the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its effective date in 1992, WDW was committed to meeting the needs of its guests with disabilities, and had been recognized as an innovator in that regard. With respect to hearing-related disabilities, WDW has offered to guests who are deaf or hard of hearing a variety of auxiliary aides, including assistive listening systems, TDD's, captioning on television, and written aides to communication at many of its shows and attractions. Following enactment of the ADA, the Department advised WDW that some guests with hearing disabilities claimed that they were denied effective communication as required by the ADA. As a result of the concerns addressed by the Department which have since been resolved separately, the Department proceeded to investigate and began an ongoing discussion with WDW. Together, with the Department's assistance, WDW has undertaken a variety of innovative steps to better address the needs of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. While WDW is committed to continuing its exploration of new and improved methods and services, the following represents an agreement between WDW and the Department as to effective communication at this time: 1. WDW agrees to continue to provide those auxiliary aids and services necessary for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals to enjoy the programs and services at the Walt Disney World Resort, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. S 12182(b)(2)(A)(iii). While methods of complying with the ADA will differ depending upon the particular attraction, such methods include, but are not limited to: captioning; sign language interpreters; assistive listening systems (ALS's); and written aids. This Agreement provides for specific auxiliary aids for each attraction at Walt Disney World as identified in Attachment A, which is incorporated in this Agreement by reference. WDW's efforts to develop other effective auxiliary aids will continue to evolve. 2. a. WDW shall make interpreting services available at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney-MGM Studios on a rotating scheduled basis so that guests will know precisely when those services are available at the specific park. WDW's interpreters 2 will be qualified sign language interpreters capable of oral or ASL interpretations. The schedule will alternate at each of the three parks in rotation so that one performance of each identified show will be interpreted on the day scheduled for interpreting, timed to permit guests to attend all the interpreted shows at that park on that day. Guests with hearing disabilities who wish to see those interpreted performances must notify WDW Guest Services at least fourteen (14) days prior to the day and date upon which services are to be scheduled. In special circumstances, such as a visit of three days or less when interpreting is not available at the guest's park of choice, WDW shall also make an effort to provide interpreter services on a day on which they are not regularly scheduled. It is the parties' hope and expectation that the two-week notice requirement will be reduced to one week, or less, no later than December 31, 1998, unless WDW informs the Department on or before November 1, 1998, that there is good cause for not being able to shorten the two week notice provision. b. Guests who wish to request interpreted performances of: (i) Epcot World Showcase street-type entertainers; (ii) America Gardens performances; or (iii) House of Invention, none of which will appear on the interpreter schedule must request the interpreter services at least 14 days prior to the date on which they would like the services. Among these events, which may change from time to time, are currently included: Voices of Liberty; Le Clown Gordoon; Jon Armstrong Magic Show; Pam Brody; World Showcase Players; Canadian Comedy Corps. c. Guests requiring interpreter services shall identify themselves to WDW personnel at the attraction scheduled for interpreting and the guest and one companion shall be provided seating that will permit them to see the interpreter without obstacles or interference during the attraction or event. d. WDW will of course impose no surcharge on persons with disabilities to cover the cost of providing any auxiliary aids, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. S 12182(b)(2)(A)(i). e. Printed interpreter schedules will be available at all Guest Services locations. Interpreter information is also available from Guest Services by telephone and on the WDW site on the Internet. 3. WDW has been working on developing discrete captioning for attractions at Walt Disney World for a number of years. As a result of those efforts and the Department's assistance, WDW can and will provide captioning services at various attractions as set forth on Attachment A. These services shall be available regardless of date or time and without advance notice requirements. Any guest may obtain information regarding 3 captioning services and any auxiliary aids or devices at Guest Services locations. 4. For those attractions at which interpreters or captioning are not currently provided under this Agreement, WDW will continue to evaluate and develop technologies or other methods of providing more effective communication for hard of hearing or deaf guests. In the interim, where written aids are the only auxiliary aid presently available, hard of hearing or deaf guests and a companion shall be allowed to experience the ride or attraction a second time promptly, being seated by WDW personnel at the next available performance or rotation of the attraction, if they identify themselves as a person with a hearing disability at the entrance to the ride or attraction. 5. WDW shall promote the availability of its services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing in print and other marketing media. The parties recognize that publication of the availability of the services for its deaf and hard of hearing guests, as well as the interpreter schedules, is essential to this Agreement. WDW agrees to make one distribution of information about the availability of its services for deaf and hard of hearing persons to major organizations for the deaf and hard of hearing communities, identified by the Department, within a reasonable time following the date of this Agreement. 6. As the parties have discussed, as part of WDW's ongoing efforts, WDW shall continue to evaluate the effectiveness of auxiliary aids and explore methods and technologies in a wide variety of areas including those where WDW is, or will be, providing interpreters or captions. In that regard, WDW shall notify the Department every six months as to any changes and developments in the types of auxiliary aids provided until December 1, 2000, and the parties will cooperate towards determining whether captioning or interpreters are feasible and acceptable for any WDW attraction where they are not already provided on that date. 7. WDW is expanding the scope and depth of employee training in disability awareness, etiquette, and services available, consistent with the employee's responsibilities. Such training includes, as applicable, treatment of guests with disabilities, the availability of services and auxiliary aids, and procedures and policies regarding guests with disabilities. WDW will continue to improve upon the training and training techniques and consider new and better ways of informing its' cast members in this area whenever possible. WDW shall provide training materials to the Department for periodic review, upon request from the Department. 8. WDW will continue to provide a complaint procedure for guests including complaints regarding treatment of guests with 4 hearing disabilities and availability of auxiliary aids. All WDW Guest Services employees located at any Guest Services location shall be trained to respond to questions or complaints about; current policies for addressing the needs of guests with disabilities, information about available transcripts, paper and pencil, and emergency procedures for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. 9. WDW will conform the aids and services at the Disneyland attractions comparable to those at Walt Disney World identified on Attachment A. 10. The parties understand that nothing contained in this Agreement limits in any way the Department's ability to enforce the ADA against WDW in the future should it not be in compliance with the ADA. Nor does it limit, in any way, WDW's ability to assert any legal defenses available to such claims. Also, by not seeking enforcement of any specific term of this Agreement, neither the Department nor WDW shall have waived its rights, to enforce any other portion of this Agreement. This Agreement does not compromise WDW's continuing obligation to comply with all aspects of the ADA. 11. This Agreement is a public document. Copies of this document, attachments, exhibits, and any information contained in them may be made available to any person at any time. The Department shall provide copies of these documents to any person upon request. 12. This Agreement fully and accurately reflects the agreement of the signers and no other statement, promise, or agreement, either written or oral, made by either party that is not contained in this written agreement, shall be enforceable. 13. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth below, and it shall be binding on WDW and its successors in interest. WDW will notify any such successors in interest. (Signature) (Signature) Walt Disney World Co. DEVAL L. PATRICK by: Corporate Officer Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division United States Department DATE: 17 January 1997 of Justice ATTACHMENT "A" TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WALT DISNEY WORLD CO. 1. Where no auxiliary aids are required pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the item is listed as "no aid necessary." 2. "Written aids" are currently available. 3. "Interpreters" are currently available, or will be made available at Walt Disney World no later than March 1, 1997, and at Disneyland no later than December 1, 1997. 4. "Captions" refer to closed captioning systems that are currently available or will be made available no later than December 31, 1997. 5. Attractions identified with an asterisk (*) are being given priority in evaluating feasibility of captioning. 6. Attractions identified with a double asterisk (**) are being given priority in evaluating feasibility of using interpreters. 7. At attractions identified with a pound sign (#), guests who are deaf or hard of hearing will be allowed to promptly ride the attraction a second time. See Agreement, paragraph 6. MAGIC KINGDOM FRONTIERLAND Big Thunder Mountain Railroad No aid necessary. Country Bear Jamboree Captions at main event by 12/31/97. The Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue Interpreter at main event currently available. Frontierland Shootin' Arcade No aid necessary. #Splash Mountain Written aid. Tom Sawyer Island No aid necessary. Walt Disney World Railroad Interpreter at main event by 3/1/97. LIBERTY SQUARE The Hall of Presidents Captions at main event currently available. #The Haunted Mansion Written aid; See Agreement, paragraph 6. Liberty Square Riverboat (Liberty Belle) Interpreter at main event by 3/1/97. Mike Fink Keelboats (seasonal) Interpreter at main event by 3/1/97. ADVENTURELAND Jungle Cruise Interpreter at main event currently available. #Pirates of the Caribbean Written aid; See Agreement, paragraph 6. Swiss Family Treehouse No aid necessary. *,# The Enchanted Tiki Birds Written aid; See Agreement, paragraph 6. FANTASYLAND Castle Forecourt Stage Interpreter at main event currently available. Cinderella's Golden Carousel No aid necessary. Dumbo the Flying Elephant No aid necessary. #"It's a Small World" Written aid. See Agreement, paragraph 6. Legend of the Lion King Written aid at preshow; Captions at main event by 12/31/97. Mad Tea Party No aid necessary. 2 #Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Written aid. Peter Pan's Flight Written aid. Skyway To Tomorrowland No aid necessary. #Snow White's Adventures Written aid. "The Sword in the Stone" Interpreter at main event currently available. MICKEY'S TOONTOWN FAIR The Barnstormer No aid necessary. Toontown Hall of Fame No aid necessary. Mickey's Country House Captions on videos by 12/31/97. TOMORROWLAND The Timekeeper (circlevision) Captions at preshow and main event by 12/31/97. *,# Walt Disney's Carousel Captions at preshow by of Progress 12/31/97; Written aid for main event; See Agreement, paragraph 6. Take Flight Written aid. Tomorrowland Speedway No aid necessary. Alien Encounter: Captions at preshow by ExtraTERRORestrial 12/31/97; Written aid for main event; See Agreement, paragraph 6. Space Mountain Captions at preshow by 12/31/97; no aid necessary for main event. Astro Orbiter No aid necessary. 3 Galaxy Palace Theater Interpreter at main event currently available. Tomorrowland Transit Authority No aid necessary. MAINSTREET, U.S.A. Main Street Cinema Captions at main event by 12/31/97. Main Street Vehicles No aid necessary. Magic Kingdom Parade Interpreter by 3/1/97. EPCOT #, ** Horizons Written aid; See Agreement, paragraph 6. #Body Wars Captions at preshow by 12/31/97; written aid at main event. Cranium Command Captions at preshow and main event by 12/31/97. The Making of Me Captions at main event by 12/31/97. Met Lifestyle Revue Captions on computer monitors currently available. Wonders of Life Anacomical Players Interpreter at main event currently available. Coach's Corner Captions by 12/31/97. Frontiers of Medicine Captions by 12/31/97. Wondercyles No aid necessary. Video Voyage Captions by 12/31/97. 4 Goofy About Health Written aid; see Agreement, paragraph 6. Sensory FunHouse No aid necessary. #Ellen's Energy Adventure Written aid; See Agreement, paragraph 6. Innoventions Plaza -- Interactive Activity Center Contracts with third party participants will encourage them to be responsive to considerations of effective communication to deaf and hard of hearing guests. House of Innovention Interpreter for tour upon special request currently available. #Space Ship Earth Written aid; See Agreement, paragraph 6. Global Neighborhood (Interactive Activity Center) Captions by 12/31/97. The Living Seas Preshow captions by 12/31/97; interpreter at main event currently available. The Land Boat Ride Interpreter at main event currently available. The Circle of Life Captions at preshow and main event by 12/31/97. Food Rocks Captions by 12/31/97. Behind the Seeds, Greenhouse tour (reservations required, $6 fee) Interpreter upon special request currently available. Future Corps (brass band) No aid necessary. Journey Into Imagination Written aid; see Agreement, paragraph 6. 5 Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (3D movie) Captions at main event by 12/31/97. The Image Works (A Creative Playground) Caption on monitors by 12/31/97. WORLD SHOWCASE World Class Brass No aid necessary. 1. Mexico El Rio del Tiempo Written aid, see Agreement, paragraph 6. 2. Norway #Maelstrom Captions at post-show by 12/31/97; written aid at main event. 3. China Wonders of China (Circlevision) Captions at main event by 12/31/97. Dragon: Ruler of the Wind and Waves (art exhibit) No aid necessary. Si Zhu (flute/zither) No aid necessary. Pu Yang Acrobats No aid necessary. Flying Dragon Variety Troupe No aid necessary. 4. Germany Biergarten Restaurant Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. 6 6. Italy I Cantanapoli (quartet) No aid necessary. 7. The American Adventure The American Adventure Exhibit Captions at preshow and main event by 12/31/97. Voices of Liberty (vocals) Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. Sons of Liberty (fife and drum) No aid necessary. America Gardens Theater Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97 when performances are scheduled. 8. Japan One World Taiko (drum duos) No aid necessary. Matsuriza (traditional drumming) No aid necessary. Cirikli (dancing) No aid necessary. 9. Morocco Festival Marrakesh No aid necessary. The Houzali Troupe (acrobats) No aid necessary. 10. France Impressions de France Captions at main event by 12/31/97. Le Clown Gordoon Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. 11. United Kingdom Caledonia Bagpipes No aid necessary. 7 Jon Armstrong (magic show) Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. Pam Brody (pianist/entertainer) Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. World Showcase Players (Street Theater) Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. The British Invasion (60's music) No aid necessary. The Pipes of Scotland No aid necessary. 13. Canada O Canada (circlevision) Captions at main event by 12/31/97. Canadian Comedy Corps Interpreter upon special request by 3/1/97. The Pipes of Nova Scotia No aid necessary. DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS Theatre of the Stars -- Beauty and the Beast Interpreter at main event currently available. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Captions at main event by 12/31/97. The Monster Sound Show Interpreter at main event by 3/1/97. Backlot Theatre -- "Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame..." (show) Interpreter at main event currently available. SuperStar Television Captions at preshow and main event by 12/31/97. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Interpreter at main event currently available. 8 The Walt Disney Theater and "Post Captions at preshow ("Post Production". Production") and main event by 12/31/97. Disney's Toy Story Parade Interpreter at main event by 3/1/97. #Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Captions at preshow by 12/31/97; written aid at main event. Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 4D Captions at preshow and main event by 12/31/97. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure (playground) No aid necessary. Backstage Pass to "101 Dalmations" Captions on monitors by 12/31/97. Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour Captions at preshow by and Tank Show (preshow) and 12/31/97; interpreter at main AFI Showcase (postshow) event currently available; and captions at postshow by 12/31/97. Animation Tour Captions at preshow by 12/31/97; interpreter at main event by 3/1/97. #Star Tours Captions at preshow by 12/31/97; written aid at main event. #, ** The Great Movie Ride Written aid; see Agreement, paragraph 6. 9