ADA Victory at the Olympics/Parlympics (fwd)

[F. Pennell]

Here is some good news from Justice For All.  Francie Pennell

               Justice For All

               beckyo at names.org

    ADA Victory at the Olympics/Parlympics


The Department of Justice reached formal agreement
today with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic
Games (ACOG). Calling it "the most accessible
stadium in the world," Assistant Attorney General
Deval L. Patrick today toured the Olympic Stadium,
home to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Patrick announced that the Atlanta Committee for the
Olympic Games (ACOG) has agreed to ensure that the
construction of these five newly-built venues are
completed in compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). The agreements set out the
way in which the stadium and other venues will be
accessible during the Olympics as well as when they
are converted for future use after the Paralympics.

The Justice Department began working together with
organizers of the summer Olympics three years ago to
ensure that the sports venues were built to be
accessible to people with disabilities. The Dept.'s
efforts focused on the Olympic Stadium, as well as
other venues including the Olympic aquatic center,
the Stone Mountain Memorial tennis center, and the
Morris Brown College and Clark Atlanta University
field hockey stadiums.

The Olympic stadium has a seating capacity of 85,000
and the following will be done to ensure it's compliance
with the ADA:

*designate 1% of its seats for wheelchair users and
disperse spaces througout the stadium, including in
suites and on the Club level;
*ensure that each wheelchair space is next to a
conventional seat so that spectators with disabilities
can sit next to family and friends;
*ensure that virtually all wheelchair seats have a
comparable "line of sight," so that wheelchair users
can still see the playing surface even when spectators
in front of them stand up during the event;
*make concession stands, restrooms, parking areas, bank
machines, locker rooms, and employee work areas accessible.

Patrick noted, "This agreement sets a new standard for stadium
access." "The Olympic Stadium will serve as a model for all
future stadiums."

Following the summer games, the Olympic Stadium will be
converted for use by the Atlanta Brave, and the other
venues will continue to be used as sporting facilities.

Congratulations and Great Work DOJ for enforcing
the ADA the way it was meant to be enforced.
For more information, please call the Dept. of Justice
toll-free number 800514-0301.

FYI: Many activists have requested a copy of Deval Patrick's
keynote address to the recent National Council on Independent
Living Annual Conference, for those of you interested,
please e-mail jfa at tnet.com for this copy.

JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!


Becky Ogle
E-mail:  beckyo at names.org
Voice:  703-836-6263