WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Arlington County, Va. to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities. The far reaching agreement was signed today at the Arlington County Board Room with County Manager Ron Carlee. The agreement was reached under, “Project Civic Access,” a Justice Department initiative to bring localities into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“I applaud Arlington County officials for their commitment to making their community accessible to all of its citizens, both with and without disabilities,” said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “As a result of today’s agreement, people with disabilities in Arlington will now be able to participate more fully in fundamental aspects of community life, including serving on juries at the Arlington Courthouse, viewing the County website, accessing emergency services, and enjoying County libraries, recreation centers, community centers, and parks.”
Project Civic Access was initiated to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life. As part of the project, DOJ investigators, attorneys, and architects survey state and local government facilities and programs across the country for the purpose of identifying modifications needed to comply with ADA requirements. Depending on the circumstances in each community, the agreements address specific areas where access can be improved. Last year alone, the number of people with disabilities living in jurisdictions that signed Project Civic Access agreements with the Department was more than 1 million. To date, the Department has entered into 145 settlement agreements with villages, towns, cities, and counties across the country under Project Civic Access, 105 of which were made during the past five years.
People interested in finding out more about the ADA or today’s agreement with Arlington County can access the ADA home page at http://www.ada.gov. or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
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