U.S. Attorney’s Office Obtains ADA Settlement With Dayton Township to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has reached a settlement with Dayton Township in Tuscola County to ensure full access to township services for individuals with disabilities.

The agreement, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleging that many township services were inaccessible to individuals with disabilities. The complaint, filed by a local resident, alleged that Dayton Township’s government offices were located in the private homes of its elected officials, and that because of physical barriers present in those homes, the government services provided in them were inaccessible to individuals with disabilities.

The settlement agreement requires Dayton Township to adopt an ADA policy, and to establish a mechanism to provide township services in an alternative location or in an alternate manner to ensure that all Dayton Township residents have access to township services.

“Access to public facilities and services are essential to meaningful participation in civic life, and individuals with disabilities are entitled to the opportunity to participate in local government programs, services, and activities on an equal basis with their neighbors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel L. Lemisch.

For more information on the ADA or today’s agreement with Dayton Township, visit www.ada.gov or call the United States Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) or the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights hotline at (313) 226-9151.