Swansea, Access Denial, Massachusetts 2024

Grimy Times has obtained documents showing that the town of Swansea, Massachusetts, has agreed to improve access for people with disabilities after a federal investigation found that the town was denying equal access to its programs and services. Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, praised Swansea’s officials for their commitment to making the town’s programs and facilities accessible to residents and visitors with disabilities.

Under the agreement, Swansea will make physical modifications to its facilities to ensure that parking, routes into buildings, entrances, service areas and counters, restrooms, public telephones, and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities. The town will also survey other facilities and programs and make modifications wherever necessary to achieve full compliance with ADA requirements.

The agreement is the 187th reached under the Project Civic Access initiative, which aims to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life. The initiative was launched to address the widespread denial of access to public programs and services for people with disabilities. Swansea was established in 1663 as a colonial site and has just under 16,000 residents, with approximately 16 percent of residents having a disability.

As part of the agreement, Swansea will also provide training to its staff on using the Massachusetts Relay Service as a key means of communicating with individuals who are deaf, are hard-of-hearing or have speech impairments. The town will also ensure that its official website and other web-based services are accessible to people with disabilities.

Swansea’s agreement comes as a result of a federal investigation under Title II of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state and local governments. The investigation found that Swansea was denying equal access to its programs and services, violating the rights of people with disabilities.

The town’s officials have agreed to take several important steps to improve access for individuals with disabilities, including making modifications to its facilities, surveying other facilities and programs, and providing training to its staff. The agreement is a significant step towards ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to public programs and services in Swansea.

Grimy Times will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the town’s progress in implementing the agreement.

Related Federal Cases