ADA Settlement Improves Accessibility at West Hartford Acupuncture Practice

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that West Hartford Acupuncture, located at 173 Oakwood Avenue in West Hartford, has entered into a settlement agreement with the United States under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  In the agreement, West Hartford Acupuncture has agreed to make its business more accessible to persons with disabilities.

The settlement resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice that claims that West Hartford Acupuncture is not physically accessible to persons with mobility disabilities.  Under the terms of the settlement, West Hartford Acupuncture must make numerous changes to its West Hartford building, including making the building’s entrance accessible to persons with mobility disabilities, making its parking ADA-compliant, improving signage, and increasing accessibility inside the building.  West Hartford Acupuncture has also agreed to provide ADA training for its staff.

Under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of “public accommodation,” including professional offices of health care providers, hospitals, and other service establishments, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability.   The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic reviews of compliance of covered entities.  The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.

“It is critically important that health care services are accessible to all in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Avery.  “I applaud the operators of West Hartford Acupuncture for agreeing to make their services more accessible to persons with disabilities, without litigation.”

West Hartford Acupuncture has three years to make the changes required by the agreement and must submit certifications concerning compliance to the U.S. Attorney’s Office every six months until it has fully complied with the agreement.

A copy of the settlement agreement will be found on www.ada.gov.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing.

Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700.

Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY).  More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.