ADA Turns 10 in 2000

Y2K marks more than the dawn of a new millennium, a computer crisis that never came to pass and Britney Spears' first and last year on the music charts. The year — specifically, July 26, 2000 — is also the tenth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Of the ADA, Attorney General Janet Reno says, "I have made enforcement . . . one of my top priorities. At the Justice Dept. we have engaged in extensive educational outreach and entered into hundreds of agreements ensuring greater access to thousands of businesses and governments. We have also increased the number of attorneys who enforce the law and stepped up funding for ADA-related programs across the country."

It's the "hundreds of agreements" Reno references that have shaped the ADA today. In fact, the decade's most significant consent decrees, formal agreements and mediated agreements are documented in the Dept. of Justice's (DOJ) "Special 10th Anniversary Status Report — Enforcing the ADA" and 10 regional press status reports.

To celebrate ADA's birthday, we highlight some of the sign-related cases described in these reports. These cases span the country, impacting many types of businesses, entertainment venues and public facilities.

Days Inn and its parent company, the Cendant Corp. (formerly HFS Inc.) — In a 1999 consent decree that resolved five lawsuits filed by the DOJ and four years of litigation, Days Inn (Parsippany, NJ), reportedly the world's largest hotel chain, agreed to make its new hotels — nationwide — more accessible to the disabled.

As part of the decree, Days Inn now pays for independent surveys at new hotels to ensure ADA Standards compliance. The hotel chain also paid $50,000 to the United States and established a $4.75 million revolving fund to provide franchisees interest-free loans for financing ADA-related repairs and renovations at newly constructed hotels.

Days Inn's accessibility problems included: inadequate signage for people who are blind or have low vision; insufficient accessible parking; inaccessible entrances, walkways, hotel routes and guestroom and restroom doors; inadequate space for people in wheelchairs to maneuver in guestrooms and restrooms; and insufficient visual alarm systems for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Swifty Mart Convenience Stores — Swifty Mart (Durham, NC), a southern-U.S. convenience-store chain, agreed to improve access problems at 53 existing stores, ensure ADA compliance at future stores and pay a civil penalty of $5,000. Swifty Mart also agreed to provide: accessible parking with appropriate signage, curb ramps as needed, employee ADA training and refueling assistance to the disabled when more than one employee is on duty and no security risk will result.

Radio City Music Hall — The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York filed a suit against Radio City Music Hall's (New York) owners and operators. Resolved by consent decree, the case ensured the historic theatre would: install signage directing patrons to accessible routes and service areas; remove barriers affecting exterior and interior routes, doors and elevators; furnish adequate handicapped-accessible seating, restrooms, telephones, drinking fountains, concession areas, ticket windows and dressing rooms; and provide 240 assistive listening devices and ADA-compliant visual alarms.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation — A DOJ investigation revealed that Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA) was not ADA-compliant. Colonial Williamsburg agreed to: install signage directing visitors to accessible restrooms; provide auxiliary aids and services to people with vision and hearing disabilities; and improve accessibility of hotels, restaurants and walkways by modifying handrails, doorways, etc.

Pierce Field — The City of East Providence, RI, failed to carry out two agreements with the DOJ that would alter its municipal stadium and ensure appropriate access. As such, the city paid $2,000 to a group representing persons with disabilities in Rhode Island. The city paid an additional $2,400 penalty for missing the May 1, 1998 modification date deadline by 12 days ($200/day). To comply with the ADA, Pierce Field installed: 30 accessible seating locations with 30 companion seats, an accessible route to the seats, signs marking the accessible route and appropriate restroom accommodations with signage.

Destin City Hall — After a compliance review, the City of Destin, FL, learned its newly constructed city hall building did not meet ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The city filed a complaint with the Florida licensing board against the architectural firm that designed the building, then sought to make appropriate structural changes. Specifically, Destin installed ADA-compliant signage, modified four restrooms, widened doorways, built a ramp and provided access to council chambers.