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Civic Access for People with Disabilities
Justice Department signs agreement with Van Buren county, Arkansas, to ensure civic access for people with disabilities.

 

New Service Animals TA Document Available on ADA.gov
A new technical assistance document on the 2010 revised ADA requirements for service animals has been added to ADA.gov and is now available. The document is available in HTML and in PDF.

 

New ADA Rules In Effect

3/15/2011 - The first major revision of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 20 years took effect March 15, 2011, the Department of Justice announced. The new rules will affect more than seven million places of public accomodation and over 80,000 units of state and local gonvernment. Click here to read the Justice Department press release.

 

ADA Update: A Primer for Small Businesses is an illustrated guide to help small businesses understand the new and updated requirements of the revised ADA regulations is now available.

 

 

New Rule Extends Disability Protections to Passenger Ships & Boats

6/18/2010 - The Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced the first federal rule to specifically provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protections to people with disabilities who travel on boats and ships. The rule applies to two categories of vessels - vessels operated by public entities, such as public ferry systems, and vessels operated by private entities that are mainly in the business of transporting people, such as cruise ships. Under the rule vessel operators cannot charge extra for accessibility-related services to passengers, cannot require passengers to furnish their own attendants, and cannot deny access to passengers based on disability. The new rule will become effective 120 days after it is published.

 

New Remedies Under the ADA Legal E-Bulletin Available

6/11/2010 - The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a complex civil rights law that may award different remedies depending on the discrimination that occurs. Some remedies are spelled out in the Act explicitly while others are established by case law interpreting the ADA and its sister law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This e-bulletin discusses what remedies are available under the ADA. For questions or to reach the ADA Center that serves you please call 1.800.949.4232 v/tty.

 

 

The Access Board announced a new report, Accessible Public Rights of Way:Planning and Designing for Alterations. The report notes that both the ADAAG and Section 504 standards address buildings and site work, not rights of way and provides 25 design solutions. The report also considers methods to achieve accessibility that are not covered in the ADAAG.

 

The U.S. Access Board has released a free four-part video which illustrates issue areas of concern in the design of sidewalks. Click this link to play the videos.

 

The ADA Information Line can be found at http://www.ada.gov/infoline.htm

 

Accessibility Still an Issue for Many

In the KARK production, "Health Matters", Dr. David Lipschitz tells us of his experience with accessibility and how we still have a long way to go before achieving it.  Watch the video » (password is the number 90)

 

History of Disability Rights Center of Arkansas's/ADA Access Awareness Campaign

 

1998 - Access Arkansas Award 1998 through 2004 - In 1998, DRC launched its ADA access awareness campaign by creating the Access Arkansas Award to present to businesses that exemplified the spirit of Title III of the ADA by providing access to Arkansans with disabilities.

 

2002 - DRC'S ADA Access Awareness Campaign went pro-active - "Front Door" Access Campaign - In 2002, in addition to our Access Arkansas Award, DRC took a more pro-active approach to seek compliance with the ADA by surveying 94 central Arkansas restaurants to assess compliance with Title III of the ADA. All of the restaurants surveyed had held themselves out to the public (or had been advertised as such by other entities) as accessible to people with disabilities. The focus of DRC'S surveys was solely on "front-door" accessibility. Front-door accessibility simply means that there is accessible parking, an accessible route to the front door and an accessible entrance.

 

Our "front-door" access campaign findings were alarming as an overwhelming majority of restaurants failed to comply with Title III requirements. Only 6 restaurants met all Title III standards for front-door access; 4 met none; and the remaining 84 met some but not all of the Title III standards.

 

After attempting to encourage the 4 restaurants which met none of Title III standards to comply with the ADA, DRC filed suit in federal court against 3 of the restaurants alleging that Defendants, by refusing to remove architectural barriers, had violated Title III of the ADA:

 

  • Disability Rights Center of Arkansas and Barry Vuletich v. Sim's Bar-B-Que No. 2, Little Rock

  • Marty Johnson v. Mt. Fuji Corporation and I-430 LLC; and,

  • Disability Rights Center of Arkansas and Barry Vuletich v. Shogun Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, Little Rock
 

2002 to the present - In addition to the 94 restaurants surveyed for our 2002 "front-door" access campaign, DRC has conducted full ADA compliance access surveys of the following Title III places of public accommodation.

 

DRC lawyers always notify the owner of the survey results and request the removal of the barriers preventing access. Each of the businesses listed below was surveyed by DRC and each worked/are working with DRC to remove the architectural barriers.

 

Access Surveys

The lists that follow are the locations that have received a full ADA compliance access survey and for some reason did not pass. This does not imply that the problem(s) found at the time of the survey have been corrected, only that a problem had been found.

 

Restaurants/Fast Food

 

  1. Sunset Grill, Springdale

  2. Best Western Restaurant, Magnolia

  3. The Back Forty Restaurant, Mt. Home

  4. Stoby's Restaurant, Conway

  5. KFC, Roosevelt Road, Little Rock

  6. Burger King, Markham Road, Little Rock

  7. McDonalds, Cantrell, Little Rock

  8. Taco Bell, Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock

  9. Taco Bell, Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock

  10. Taco Bell, John Barrow Road, Little Rock

  11. Taco Bell, West Memphis

  12. Taco Bell, North Little Rock

  13. A&W Restaurant, Paragould

  14. Bonanza, Paragould

  15. Chop Sticks Chinese Buffet, Morrilton

  16. Fuji Steakhouse, Jonesboro

  17. Pizza Hut, Mt. Home

  18. Flying Fish, Little Rock

  19. Pizza Café, Little Rock

  20. Pantry Restaurant, Little Rock

  21. Who Dat's Restaurant, Bald Knob

  22. Crooked Hook Catfish Restaurant, Jacksonville

  23. Chelle's Buffet and Catering, Inc., Camden

  24. Bentley's Grill, Camden

  25. Monte Ne Chicken Restaurant, Rogers

  26. McDonald's, Rodney Parham, Little Rock

  27. McDonald's, Texarkana
 

Movie Theaters

 

  1. Malco Cinema 14, Jonesboro

  2. Malco Hollywood 12 Cinema, Jonesboro
 

Malls

 

  1. Strip Mall parking and entrance to office, Forrest City

  2. Cloverleaf Shopping Center, Van Buren

  3. Strip mall parking, Crossett

  4. Cantrell Gallery, Little Rock

  5. Strip Mall at Cantrell and Mississippi, Little Rock

  6. Cypress Properties, North Little Rock

  7. Band Mill Mall, Melbourne

  8. Cabot Centre Mall, Cabot

  9. Commons Mall, Cabot

  10. Wingate Plaza, Conway

  11. West Pleasure Shopping Plaza, Searcy

  12. Shackleford Crossing, Little Rock

  13. Foxwood Square Mall, Jonesboro
 

Grocery and Convenience Stores/Marts/Gas Stations/Places of Recreation

 

  1. Petco Store, North Little Rock

  2. EZ Mart, Clarendon

  3. Sav-A-Lot Grocery, Crossett

  4. Dollar General, Perryville

  5. Kroger Gas Station, Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock

  6. Kroger Gas Station, Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock

  7. Kroger Gas Station, Cantrell Road, Little Rock

  8. Polk Drug Store, Clarendon

  9. Marvin's IGA, Lowell

  10. Tobacco Outlet Store, Lowell

  11. Dollar General, Clarendon

  12. Phillips County Chamber of Commerce

  13. First Security Bank, Cabot

  14. Rodeo of the Ozarks, Springdale

  15. Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs

  16. A Test Consultants, North Little Rock

  17. Leaks Kwik Stop, Forrest City

  18. Kroger, Batesville

  19. Exxon Station, Batesville

  20. Wild Ivy Salon and Day Spa, Benton

  21. Butler Park, Little Rock

  22. Family Market, Pine Bluff

  23. Piggly Wiggly, Dermott

  24. Shell Station, 355 Hwy 95, Morrilton

  25. Knight's Super Foods, Beebe

  26. Cleo's Furniture, 69th Street, Little Rock

  27. Kroger, Oak Street, Conway

  28. Citgo gas station/Hardy Mart - Marianna

  29. Family Dollar, Nashville
 

Other

 

  1. Lions World Services for the Blind, Little Rock

  2. Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, Sherrill

  3. Riggs Supply and Home Center, West Memphis

  4. Bank of America, 6911 JFK, NLR

  5. Law Office of Christopher Morledge, Forrest City

  6. M&M Metal, Jonesboro

  7. Philander Smith College, Little Rock

  8. Dr. Neil Carmony, DDS, Texarkana, AR

  9. Hood & Stacy Law Office, Bentonville

  10. Regions Bank, Geyer Springs & Baseline, Little Rock

  11. 300 Spring Building, Little Rock
 

 

DRC'S ADA Awareness Campaign includes Title II of the ADA

In addition to our Title III work, DRC also conducts full access surveys of state and local government buildings to encourage compliance with Title II of the ADA after we receive a complaint from an Arkansan with a disability who was unable to access a government program, service or activity. Accessibility surveys were conducted on the following locations that were found to have one or more problems. This does not imply that the problem(s) found at the time of the survey have been corrected, only that a problem had been found.

 

Courthouses

 

  1. Arkansas County Courthouse Annex Building, Stuttgart

  2. Cleburne County Courthouse, Heber Springs

  3. Stone County, Mt. View

  4. Izard County Courthouse, Melbourne

  5. North Little Rock District Courthouse, North Little Rock

  6. Fulton County Courthouse, Salem

  7. Independence County Courthouse, Batesville

  8. Benton County Courthouse Annex, Bentonville

  9. Yell County Courthouse, Danville

  10. Yell County Courthouse, Dardanelle

  11. Searcy County Courthouse, Marshall

  12. Carroll County Courthouse, Berryville

  13. North Little Rock District Courtroom, N.L.R

  14. Arkansas County Annex Building, Stuttgart

  15. Crittenden County Courthouse, Marion

  16. Logan County Courthouse, Booneville
 

Schools & School Districts

 

  1. Harrison School District, Administration Building, Harrison

  2. PSSD/Crystal Hill Elementary playground

  3. Cabot School District, football stadium, Cabot

  4. Ball field at Cedar Ridge Elementary, Newark

  5. Star City School District, parking, Star City

  6. Ola School District's gymnasium, Ola

  7. Flippin School District's gymnasium, Flippin

  8. Coal Hill School District's gymnasium, Coal Hill

  9. Fountain Lake High School football field, Fountain Lake

  10. Warren High School football field, Warren

  11. Lonoke School District's buildings, parking and path of travel, Lonoke

  12. Springdale High School football field, Springdale

  13. Bryant School District's elementary school playgrounds

  14. Lake Hamilton High School and gymnasium

  15. Guy Berry Intermediate School, Mt. Home

  16. Woodruff Elementary, Little Rock - voting access

  17. North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock - voting access

  18. Metropolitan Career Center, Little Rock -- voting access

  19. Forrest City Administration Building

  20. Mills High School football stadium, Little Rock

  21. Holcomb Elementary School playgrounds, Fayetteville

  22. Cedar Park Elementary playground, Trumann

  23. Pangburn Elementary School parking lots, Heber Springs

  24. JoAnn Walters Elementary School parking lots, Dierks

  25. H.L. Lubker Elementary School play grounds, Bald Knob

  26. Harrison School District, High School gymnasium
 

Cities/Counties

 

  1. City of Mt. View, sidewalks

  2. Maynard City Hall

  3. Vilonia City Hall, Vilonia

  4. Alma Municipal Center, Alma

  5. Everton City Hall and City Park, Everton

  6. Melbourne City Hall

  7. City of Little Rock, sidewalks

  8. Hot Spring County 4-H Club, Malvern

  9. Hoxie City Hall, Hoxie

  10. Conway Polilce Department

  11. North Little Rock Police Station
 

Colleges

 

  1. Black River Technical College, Pocahontas

  2. SAU Student Center, Magnolia

  3. SAU Branch, El Dorado

  4. Garland County Community College, Hot Springs

  5. Pulaski Tech, Little Rock
 

State Entities

 

  1. Capitol Hill Apartments, Little Rock

  2. Arkansas Supreme Court Building's doors, Little Rock

  3. Employment Security Office, Little Rock

  4. Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock

  5. Revenue Office, Wynne

  6. Faulkner Co. Revenue Office
 

Voting Locations

 

  1. Amtrak Train Station, Little Rock

  2. Bayou Meto Elementary, Jacksonville

  3. Bess Chisholm Stephens YWCA, Little Rock

  4. Calvary Baptist Church, North Little Rock

  5. Cammack Village City Hall, Little Rock

  6. College Station Community Center, College Station

  7. Cooperative Extension Service, Pulaski Co.

  8. Grace Presbyterian, Little Rock

  9. Harris Elementary School, North Little Rock

  10. Henderson United Methodist Church, Little Rock

  11. Jack Evans Senior Citizen Center, Sherwood

  12. Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club, Jacksonville

  13. Jacksonville City Hall, Jacksonville

  14. Jess Odom Community Center, Maumelle

  15. Little Rock Adult Education Center, Little Rock

  16. Little Rock Fire Station #10, Little Rock

  17. North Heights Recreation Center, Little Rock

  18. North Little Rock City Hall, North Little Rock

  19. Otter Creek Racquet Club, Little Rock

  20. Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, Little Rock

  21. Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church, Little Rock

  22. Sherwood Youth Center, Sherwood

  23. St. Anne Parish Hall, North Little Rock

  24. St. John's Vision Center, Little Rock

  25. St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Little Rock

  26. Sue Cowan Williams Library, Little Rock

  27. Sylvan Hills Community Church, Sherwood

  28. The Church at Rock Creek, Little Rock

  29. W.W. Williams NW Patrol, Little Rock

  30. William F. Laman Library, North Little Rock

  31. Willow House Activity Center, North Little Rock

  32. Wrightsville City Hall, Wrightsville

  33. Avilla Community Center, Alexander

  34. Bryant First Methodist, Bryant

  35. Shannon Hills City Hall, Shannon Hills

  36. Woodland Hills Water Department, Alexander
 

Other

 

  1. Butler Park, Little Rock
 

DRC has also sought compliance with Title II by filing suit in federal court or by filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. Those cases are as follows:

 

  • Camden, Hampton, El Dorado and Warren - sidewalks - complaints filed with U.S. Department of Justice. Department of Transportation took over case and cities agreed to complete self evaluation and transition plans regarding sidewalks.

  • Pulaski Tech, North Little Rock campus - complaint filed with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Complaint was settled with mediation.

  • Brookland School District - complaint filed with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Complaint under investigation.