Austin lawsuits cite inaccessibility <\/p>\n
Posted: July 29, 2008 <\/p>\n
AUSTIN, TEXAS (KXAN) — The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) filed a
\nseries of federal court lawsuits across the state to commemorate the
\n18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). <\/p>\n
The lawsuits, which are part of a campaign called “A Day in the
\nLife,” are intended to improve the accessibility of facilities such as
\nrestaurants, streets, and municipal buildings, and raise public
\nawareness about serious accessibility barriers and discrimination that
\npeople with disabilities still face as they try to go about their
\ndaily lives. <\/p>\n
The suits also point to the significant lack of progress that still
\nexists 18years after the ADA’s passage. <\/p>\n
“These cases underline issues that affect the daily lives of people
\nwith disabilities, from morning to night,” TCRP Director Jim
\nHarrington said. “We will use litigation and education on every
\nanniversary of the ADA and throughout the year to help bring about the
\npromise of equal opportunity for all.” <\/p>\n
One suit involves the Travis County Exposition Center in Austin.
\nAlthough the Expo Center has undergone $6 million in renovations, it
\nremains inaccessible to people with disabilities. <\/p>\n
Another suit is against the apartment complex Villas on 6th in
\nAustin. In this case, a mother of young children has epilepsy. Because
\nof her seizures, her landlord forced her and her children to move out.<\/p>\n
Other Austin lawsuits address accessibility barriers in restaurants
\nand shops, including Habanero’s Mexican Cafe. <\/p>\n
Other places in Texas continue to ignore the ADA. <\/p>\n
In Canyon, Texas, the Pioneer Amphitheater has no accessible seating,
\nforcing people in wheelchairs to sit in the aisle when watching a
\nshow, blocking emergency exit pathways. <\/p>\n
In Corpus Christi, a lawsuit against the city alleges that, despite
\nlarge-scale renovations, sidewalks remain inaccessible to people with
\nmobility disabilities. <\/p>\n
A suit against the City of Big Spring claims that almost every
\nmunicipal building fails to comply with the ADA: the city hall,
\nmunicipal auditorium, community swimming pool, and numerous city
\nsidewalks are inaccessible to people with disabilities. <\/p>\n
Other actions around the state include two federal suits in Laredo.
\nOne is against the City of Laredo. <\/p>\n
In 2001, Laredo, after another suit, entered into a settlement
\nagreement with Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) to
\nrenovate its streets for ADA compliance. Seven years later, city
\nsidewalks are still inaccessible, forcing people in wheelchairs to
\nnavigate dangerous streets and limiting their access in Laredo. <\/p>\n
Also, Laredo Medical Center refused to provide an interpreter upon
\nrequest by a deaf patient with a heart condition. As a result, the
\npatient was forced to undergo five days of medical care completely
\nunaware of the treatment he was being provided. <\/p>\n
TCRP has also filed three federal cases against businesses in El Paso
\nfor lack of accessibility to two restaurants, and the local Wal-Mart. <\/p>\n
Source: http:\/\/www.kxan.com\/Global\/story.asp?S=8753809&nav=menu73_2<\/p>\n
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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).…<\/p>\n