Transcript Summary of Affirmative Survey Responses (N=137)

ADA Title II Action Guide
Revisited
• 5 Administrative Action Steps
• 4 Principles of Effective
Compliance
• 3 Phases to Compliance Process
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5 Administrative Action Steps
#1.
#2.
#3.
#4.
#5.
Designate a responsible employee
Provide public notice
Adopt a grievance procedure
Carry out a Self-Evaluation
Develop a Transition Plan
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Small Entities
If fewer than fifty employees--not
required to:
 Designate a responsible employee
 Adopt a grievance procedure
 Maintain Self-Evaluation for 3 years
 Develop a Transition Plan
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4 Part Self-Evaluation
Employment
Non-Discriminatory Operations
Effective Communications
Program Accessibility
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Barrier Removal Methods
Non-Structural:
 Relocate program to accessible location
 Use accessible space when needed
 Provide staff assistance
Structural:
 Alterations
 Additions
 New Constructions
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5: Develop a Transition Plan
Required if structural changes needed
to achieve program accessibility
•
•
•
•
Identify barriers
Describe methods of barrier removal
Provide schedule
Identify responsible official
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4 Principles of Effective
Compliance
 Commitment from senior leadership
 Coordinate compliance activities
 Creatively involve people with
disabilities
 Institutionalize compliance
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3 Phases of Compliance
Process
1. Planning & Decision Making
2. Implementation
3. Follow-up & Monitoring
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ADA Compliance in
Connecticut Municipalities
2002 Study in 2 Parts
1. Self-report survey of Title II
compliance
2. Site visits to 27 city and town halls
Study conducted on behalf of the Connecticut
Office of Protection and Advocacy
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CT Municipal ADA Survey
Affirmative Survey Responses
Communities Responding N = 137
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ADA Coordinator Appointed
Public Notice posted
Grievance procedure adopted
Self-evaluation completed
Transition plan completed
Accessible Public meetings
City and town halls accessible
116
97
91
90
74
126
124
(84%)
(71%)
(66%)
(66%)
(54%)
(92%)
(90%)
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General Findings:
Broad general understanding of the intent of the ADA, but
inadequate understanding of the details of regulatory
requirements;
Self-Evaluations heavily weighted towards facility access;
effective communications, non-discriminatory program
operation and equal employment opportunity policies
and procedures often inadequate;
Self-Evaluations and Transition Plans often incomplete or
no action taken.
Transition planning and barrier removal undercut by lack of
understanding of access codes and standards and
insufficient skill in applying the principles of barrier-free
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design.
General Findings (Cont.)
Some informants acknowledge not knowing ADA process
and outcomes in their communities.
Burden falls on individuals with disabilities to initiate
requests, rather than cities and towns fulfilling the intent
of the public notice requirement by actively reaching out
and communicating rights and protections under the ADA
requirements and how each entity meets its obligations.
Little participation by individuals with disabilities in selfevaluation process, even though many communities have
some type of commission representing the interests of
residents with disabilities.
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Exterior Access Routes: N=37
15 Fully Accessible pedestrian routes from parking
areas and adjacent walkways to nominally accessible
entrances
18 Routes with major deficiencies--tripping hazards,
deteriorated ramp surfaces, slopes exceeding 1:12,
only one or no handrails, insufficient maneuver space
and latch-side clearance, wide drain gratings in
walkways, etc.
4 Routes with relatively minor barriers such as difficult
to use door hardware, unbeveled thresholds, minor
deterioration of walkway surfaces, etc.
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Restrooms
8 of 27 buildings have at least one fully accessible unisex
rest room or one pair of men’s and women’s
accessible rest rooms
7 buildings have major barriers in rest rooms such as
narrow entrance doors, inadequate turning and
maneuver space, small toilet stalls, low toilets and
inadequate grab bars
12 buildings have rest rooms or pairs of rest rooms rated
partially accessible with deficiencies such as
inadequate sink hardware, inoperable stall latches,
high towel dispensers, mirrors, clothes hooks, etc.
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Parking
27 buildings with one or more reserved accessible parking
spaces
7 with at least one van-accessible space
Assistive Listening Systems
3 with hardwired listening systems in primary public
meeting spaces or wiring for portable systems
Tactile and Braille Signs
4 with extensive tactile and contrasting signs throughout
19 with limited or no compliant signs
4 with compliant signs in some areas
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What ADA Coordinators Want:
1. Training on basic to advanced ADA skills with emphasis on facility
accessibility and employment;
2. Opportunities to discuss common concerns with coordinators from
other communities and to exchange ideas and information;
3. Examples and models of proven procedures and policies that can
be easily put into practice;
4. Information in areas like effective communication - what to get,
where to get it, how much it costs, how much time it takes, etc.;
5. Coordination with state authorities to give priority to capital
expenditures that support ADA compliance and expand services to
all citizens (e.g., bonding council).
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Recommendations
1) Create a statewide association of municipal ADA Coordinators to
facilitate communication and peer support, and to disseminate
resources and information on effective Title II planning and
implementation practices.
2) Provide a program of training and technical assistance in response
to needs identified by the state network of municipal ADA
Coordinators.
3) Develop regulatory mechanism to ensure consistent enforcement of
state architectural accessibility standards.
4) Encourage state funding entities to prioritize municipal capital
requests supporting ADA implementation.
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Recommendations
5) Develop and disseminate a comprehensive guide to effective
communication resources and services in the state.
6) Assemble and make available a library of ADA resources and
materials, including model policies and procedures, SelfEvaluations, Transition Plans, access assessment checklists,
design manuals, training videos and other compliance materials.
7) Strengthen involvement of individuals and organizations
representing disability constituencies in municipal ADA compliance
planning and progress reviews.
8) Encourage city and town governments to conduct quality reviews
of the process and outcomes of previous ADA compliance efforts;
establish additional goals and timelines to achieve full compliance
and to enhance the quality of services provided to persons with
disabilities.
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Keys to Effective Title II
Compliance
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•
•
•
Identifying & supporting champions
Ensuring continuity of effort
Strengthening advocates skills
Promoting collaboration between
internal and external advocates
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Keys to Title II Compliance (cont.)
• Cultivating the press and public
awareness
• Bringing strategic complaints and
law suits
• Strengthening state and local
compliance resources
• Including agencies providing
services under contracts
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