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Wills Point, Texas, and Randolph County, Georgia, Agree to Improve Access for People with Disabilities
WASHINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, two Texas counties have agreed to improve access for people with disabilities, marking a major victory for advocates of equal rights.
According to sources, Wills Point, Texas, and Randolph County, Georgia, have signed agreements under Project Civic Access (PCA) to ensure that all aspects of civic life are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The agreements were reached as part of an initiative to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The PCA was initiated to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life, a fundamental part of American society. As part of the PCA initiative, Justice 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 come into compliance with the ADA. PCA agreements typically include requirements to make physical modifications to public facilities so that, among other elements, parking, routes into buildings, entrances, assembly areas, restrooms, service counters and drinking fountains are accessible to people with disabilities. Other common provisions address effective communication (e.g. telephone communications), grievance procedures, polling places, emergency management procedures and policies, sidewalks, domestic violence programs, and ensuring that an entity’s official website and other web-based services are accessible to persons with disabilities.
According to census data, 23.8 percent of residents in Wills Point and 27.3 percent of residents in Randolph County have a disability. The agreements will remain in effect for three years, with the city of Wills Point required to complete most actions within that timeframe. However, the city will work with the disability community to prioritize and complete modifications to sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, transportation stops and curb ramps within five years.
Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, praised the officials in Wills Point and Randolph County for making this commitment to provide equal access to their residents and visitors with disabilities. “This week marks the 22nd anniversary of the passage of the ADA as the Justice Department continues to pursue nationwide compliance with this great civil rights law through its vigilant enforcement efforts,” Perez said.
The agreements are a significant step towards ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to civic life. Advocates are hailing the agreements as a major victory, and are calling on other communities to follow suit. As one advocate noted, “Everyone deserves equal access to civic life, regardless of their abilities.”
People interested in finding out more about the ADA, 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).
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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