Project Civic Access (DOJ) settlements to improve communication with the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

The Justice Department today announced three Project Civic Access settlement agreements with Champaign County, Illinois; Merced County, California; and Yakima County, Washington (Counties), to improve access to all aspects of civic life for people with disabilities. Under the agreements, the Counties will take important steps to improve access for people with disabilities, such as: providing auxiliary aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who are blind or have low vision; amending its employment policies to comply with ADA guidance issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; ensuring website accessibility; maintaining accessible features; make modifications necessary to sidewalks and curb ramps to provide accessible routes; and making modifications to parking, entrances, routes, toilet rooms, and other areas as well as making all of the Counties’ programs, activities, and services accessible to people with disabilities through facility alterations or programmatic changes.

Today’s settlement agreements are announced as part of the department’s on-going celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For more information about the settlement agreements please visit our ADA website at www.ada.gov . Those interested in finding out more about the ADA may also call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).