Justice Department Signs Agreement with Warrenton, Virginia, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the town of Warrenton, Va., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for individuals with disabilities. The agreement was reached under Project Civic Access (PCA), the department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department has now reached 195 agreements under the PCA initiative, improving access to civic life for more than four million individuals with disabilities nationwide.

“Individuals with disabilities must have the opportunity to participate in local government programs, services and activities on an equal basis with their neighbors,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “I commend Warrenton officials for their commitment to improving access for all residents and visitors with disabilities to the town’s full range of programs and facilities. This agreement represents another important step towards nationwide compliance with the ADA.”

“After a comprehensive review, we are pleased that the town of Warrenton has agreed to take steps to ensure that all of its residents and visitors, including those with a disability, can take full advantage of the town’s facilities and programs,” said Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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. The agreements are tailored to address the steps each community must take to improve access.

Under the agreement announced today, Warrenton officials will take several important steps to improve access for individuals with disabilities, such as:

•   Making physical modifications to its facilities so that parking, routes into the buildings, entrances, service areas and counters, restrooms, public telephones and drinking fountains are accessible to persons with disabilities.
• Surveying other facilities and programs and making modifications wherever necessary to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements.
• Implementing a comprehensive plan to improve the accessibility of the town’s sidewalks, transportation stops and pedestrian crossings by installing accessible curb ramps throughout the town.
• Ensuring that buildings and outdoor facilities that will be built or altered by or on behalf of the town comply with the ADA’s architectural requirements.
• Posting, publishing and distributing a notice to inform members of the public of the provisions of Title II of the ADA and their applicability to the town’s programs, services and activities.
• Ensuring that the official website and other Web-based services are accessible to people with disabilities.
• Developing a method for providing information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the town’s accessible services, activities and programs.
• Installing signs at any inaccessible entrance to a facility that would direct individuals with disabilities to an accessible entrance or to information about accessing programs and services at other accessible facilities.   

Today’s agreement was reached under Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state and local governments. The department will actively monitor compliance with today’s agreement, which will remain in effect for a period of three years or until the department has confirmed that all required actions have been completed, whichever is later.

People interested in finding out more about the ADA, today’s agreement, the PCA initiative, or the ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments can access the ADA website at  www.ada.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).

The agreement with the town of Warrenton is available at www.ada.gov/warrenton_va_pca/warrenton_va_pca.htm .