Austin lawsuits cite inaccessibility
Posted: July 29, 2008
AUSTIN, TEXAS (KXAN) — The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) filed a
series of federal court lawsuits across the state to commemorate the
18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The lawsuits, which are part of a campaign called “A Day in the
Life,” are intended to improve the accessibility of facilities such as
restaurants, streets, and municipal buildings, and raise public
awareness about serious accessibility barriers and discrimination that
people with disabilities still face as they try to go about their
daily lives.
The suits also point to the significant lack of progress that still
exists 18years after the ADA’s passage.
“These cases underline issues that affect the daily lives of people
with disabilities, from morning to night,” TCRP Director Jim
Harrington said. “We will use litigation and education on every
anniversary of the ADA and throughout the year to help bring about the
promise of equal opportunity for all.”
One suit involves the Travis County Exposition Center in Austin.
Although the Expo Center has undergone $6 million in renovations, it
remains inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Another suit is against the apartment complex Villas on 6th in
Austin. In this case, a mother of young children has epilepsy. Because
of her seizures, her landlord forced her and her children to move out.
Other Austin lawsuits address accessibility barriers in restaurants
and shops, including Habanero’s Mexican Cafe.
Other places in Texas continue to ignore the ADA.
In Canyon, Texas, the Pioneer Amphitheater has no accessible seating,
forcing people in wheelchairs to sit in the aisle when watching a
show, blocking emergency exit pathways.
In Corpus Christi, a lawsuit against the city alleges that, despite
large-scale renovations, sidewalks remain inaccessible to people with
mobility disabilities.
A suit against the City of Big Spring claims that almost every
municipal building fails to comply with the ADA: the city hall,
municipal auditorium, community swimming pool, and numerous city
sidewalks are inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Other actions around the state include two federal suits in Laredo.
One is against the City of Laredo.
In 2001, Laredo, after another suit, entered into a settlement
agreement with Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) to
renovate its streets for ADA compliance. Seven years later, city
sidewalks are still inaccessible, forcing people in wheelchairs to
navigate dangerous streets and limiting their access in Laredo.
Also, Laredo Medical Center refused to provide an interpreter upon
request by a deaf patient with a heart condition. As a result, the
patient was forced to undergo five days of medical care completely
unaware of the treatment he was being provided.
TCRP has also filed three federal cases against businesses in El Paso
for lack of accessibility to two restaurants, and the local Wal-Mart.
Source: http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=8753809&nav=menu73_2
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