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DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER
Celebrating 30 Years — 1977 to 2007
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ADA Access

Justice publishes notice of proposed rules for Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

On June 17, 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice published concurrent notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register in order to adopt enforceable accessibility standards under the ADA that are consistent with the minimum guidelines and requirements issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. [Read More...]

The Access Board announced a new report, Accessible Public Rights of Way:Planning and Designing for Alterations. The report notes that both the ADAAG and Section 504 standards address buildings and site work, not rights of way and provides 25 design solutions. The report also considers methods to achieve accessibility that are not covered in the ADAAG.

The U.S. Access Board has released a free four-part video which illustrates issue areas of concern in the design of sidewalks. Click this link to play the videos.

History of Disability Rights Center's/ADA Access Awareness Campaign

1998 - Access Arkansas Award 1998 through 2004 - In 1998, DRC launched its ADA access awareness campaign by creating the Access Arkansas Award to present to businesses that exemplified the spirit of Title III of the ADA by providing access to Arkansans with disabilities.

Winners of the Access Arkansas Award

1998 - FourJay LLC - owner of 37 Wendy's in Arkansas. Donna Pettus, DRC Board President & Barry Vuletich present award to Jim Hurley, FourJay LLC.
1999- KATV- Channel 7, Little Rock. Nan Ellen East, DRC Executive Director presents award to Bob Steele, KATV
2000 - Cynthia Stone & Gloria Gordon to publicize the Olmstead decision & the Governor's creation of the GIST.
2001- Museum of Discovery, Little Rock. John Fendley, DRC Board President presents award to Bill Bradshaw, Museum of Discovery Director and Elijah Harris, Museum of Discovery Board of Directors Chair.
2002- Alltel Arena, Little Rock. In commemoration of the 1990 signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
2003- Rave Theater, Little Rock. SeRonna Rodgers, DRC, presents award to Mr. Richard Gehrig, Regional Director of Operations.
2004 - Kohls Department Store

2002 - DRC'S ADA Access Awareness Campaign went pro-active - "Front Door" Access Campaign - In 2002, in addition to our Access Arkansas Award, DRC took a more pro-active approach to seek compliance with the ADA by surveying 94 central Arkansas restaurants to assess compliance with Title III of the ADA. All of the restaurants surveyed had held themselves out to the public (or had been advertised as such by other entities) as accessible to people with disabilities. The focus of DRC'S surveys was solely on "front-door" accessibility. Front-door accessibility simply means that there is accessible parking, an accessible route to the front door and an accessible entrance.

Our "front-door" access campaign findings were alarming as an overwhelming majority of restaurants failed to comply with Title III requirements. Only 6 restaurants met all Title III standards for front-door access; 4 met none; and the remaining 84 met some but not all of the Title III standards.

After attempting to encourage the 4 restaurants which met none of Title III standards to comply with the ADA, DRC filed suit in federal court against 3 of the restaurants alleging that Defendants, by refusing to remove architectural barriers had violated Title III of the ADA:

  • Disability Rights Center and Barry Vuletich v. Sim's Bar-B-Que No. 2, Little Rock
  • Marty Johnson v. Mt. Fuji Corporation and I-430 LLC; and,
  • Disability Rights Center and Barry Vuletich v. Shogun Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, Little Rock

2002 to the present - In addition to the 94 restaurants surveyed for our 2002 "front-door" access campaign, DRC has conducted full ADA compliance access surveys of the following Title III places of public accommodation.

DRC lawyers always notify the owner of the survey results and request the removal of the barriers preventing access. Each of the businesses listed below was surveyed by DRC and each worked/are working with DRC to remove the architectural barriers.

Photo of Unisex handicap access door
Picture of unisex restroom door taken by DRC during ADA access survey of one of the popular restaurants in Little Rock.

Restaurants/Fast Food

  1. Sunset Grill, Springdale
  2. Best Western Restaurant, Magnolia
  3. The Back Forty Restaurant, Mt. Home
  4. Stoby's Restaurant, Conway
  5. KFC, Roosevelt Road, Little Rock
  6. Burger King, Markham Road, Little Rock
  7. McDonalds, Cantrell, Little Rock
  8. Taco Bell, Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock
  9. Taco Bell, Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock
  10. Taco Bell, John Barrow Road, Little Rock
  11. Taco Bell, West Memphis
  12. Taco Bell, North Little Rock
  13. A&W Restaurant, Paragould
  14. Bonanza, Paragould
  15. Chop Sticks Chinese Buffet, Morrilton
  16. Fuji Steakhouse, Jonesboro
  17. Pizza Hut, Mt. Home
  18. Flying Fish, Little Rock

Movie Theaters

  1. Malco Cinema 14, Jonesboro
  2. Malco Hollywood 12 Cinema, Jonesboro

Malls

  1. Strip Mall parking and entrance to office, Forrest City
  2. Cloverleaf Shopping Center, Van Buren
  3. Strip mall parking, Crossett
  4. Cantrell Gallery, Little Rock
  5. Strip Mall at Cantrell and Mississippi, Little Rock
  6. Cypress Properties, North Little Rock
  7. Band Mill Mall, Melbourne
  8. Cabot Centre Mall, Cabot
  9. Commons Mall, Cabot

Grocery and Convenience Stores/Marts/Gas stations/Places of Recreation

  1. Petco Store, North Little Rock
  2. EZ Mart, Clarendon
  3. Sav-A-Lot Grocery, Crossett
  4. Dollar General, Perryville
  5. Kroger Gas Station, Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock
  6. Kroger Gas Station, Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock
  7. Kroger Gas Station, Cantrell Road, Little Rock
  8. Polk Drug Store, Clarendon
  9. Marvin's IGA, Lowell
  10. Tobacco Outlet Store, Lowell
  11. Dollar General, Clarendon
  12. Phillips County Chamber of Commerce
  13. First Security Bank, Cabot
  14. Rodeo of the Ozarks, Springdale
  15. Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs
  16. A Test Consultants, North Little Rock
  17. Leaks Kwik Stop, Forrest City
  18. Kroger, Batesville
  19. Exxon Station, Batesville
  20. Wild Ivy Salon and Day Spa, Benton
  21. Hot Spring County 4-H Youth Center, Malvern
  22. Butler Park, Little Rock

Voting Locations

  1. Bess Chisholm Stephens YWCA, Little Rock
  2. Amtrak Train Station, Little Rock
  3. St. John's Vision Center, Little Rock
  4. Willow House Activity Center, North Little Rock
  5. Little Rock Adult Education Center, Little Rock
  6. Little Rock Fire Station #10, Little Rock
  7. Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church, Little Rock
  8. Grace Presbyterian, Little Rock
  9. Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, Little Rock
  10. College Station Community Center, College Station
  11. Henderson UMC, Little Rock
  12. Otter Creek Racquet Club, Little Rock
  13. The Church at Rock Creek, Little Rock
  14. St. Anne Parish Hall, North Little Rock
  15. St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Little Rock
  16. Calvary Baptist Church, North Little Rock
  17. Harris Elementary School, North Little Rock
  18. North Little Rock City Hall, North Little Rock
  19. Bayou Meto Elementary, Jacksonville
  20. Jacksonville Boys and Girls Club, Jacksonville
  21. Jack Evans Senior Citizen Center, Sherwood
  22. Sherwood Youth Center, Sherwood
  23. Sylvan Hills Community Church, Sherwood

DRC'S ADA Awareness Campaign includes Title II of the ADA

In addition to our Title III work, DRC also conducts full access surveys of state and local government buildings to encourage compliance with Title II of the ADA after we receive a complaint from an Arkansan with a disability who was unable to access a government program, service or activity. We have conducted accessibility surveys of the following:

Courthouses

  1. Arkansas County Courthouse Annex Building, Stuttgart
  2. Cleburne County Courthouse, Heber Springs
  3. Stone County, Mt. View
  4. Izard County Courthouse, Melbourne
  5. North Little Rock District Courthouse, North Little Rock
  6. Fulton County Courthouse, Salem
  7. Independence County Courthouse, Batesville
  8. Benton County Courthouse Annex, Bentonville
  9. Yell County Courthouse, Danville
  10. Yell County Courthouse, Dardanelle
  11. Searcy County Courthouse, Marshall
  12. Carroll County Courthouse, Berryville

School Districts

  1. Harrison School District, Administration Building, Harrison
  2. PSSD/Crystal Hill Elementary playground
  3. Cabot School District, football stadium, Cabot
  4. Ball field at Cedar Ridge Elementary, Newark
  5. Star City School District, parking, Star City
  6. Ola School District's gymnasium, Ola
  7. Flippin School District's gymnasium, Flippin
  8. Coal Hill School District's gymnasium, Coal Hill
  9. Fountain Lake High School football field, Fountain Lake
  10. Warren High School football field, Warren
  11. Lonoke School District's buildings, parking and path of travel, Lonoke
  12. Springdale High School football field, Springdale
  13. Bryant School District's elementary school playgrounds
  14. Lake Hamilton High School and gymnasium
  15. Guy Berry Intermediate School, Mt. Home
  16. Woodruff Elementary, Little Rock - voting access
  17. North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock - voting access
  18. Metropolitan Career Center, Little Rock -- voting access
  19. Forrest City Administration Building

Cities/Counties

  1. City of Mt. View, sidewalks
  2. Maynard City Hall
  3. Vilonia City Hall, Vilonia
  4. Alma Municipal Center, Alma
  5. Everton City Hall and city park, Everton
  6. Melbourne City Hall
  7. City of Little Rock, sidewalks
  8. Sue Cowan Williams Library, Little Rock - voting access
  9. Jacksonville City Hall, Jacksonville - voting access
  10. William F. Laman Library, North Little Rock - voting access
  11. Jess Odom Community Center, Maumelle - voting access
  12. W.W. Williams NW Patrol, Little Rock - voting access
  13. Wrightsville City Hall, Wrightsville - voting access
  14. Cammack Village City Hall, Little Rock - voting access
  15. North Heights Recreation Center, Little Rock - voting access
  16. Cooperative Extension Service, Pulaski Co. - voting access
  17. Hot Spring County 4-H Club, Malvern

Colleges

  1. Black River Technical College, Pocahontas
  2. SAU Student Center, Magnolia
  3. SAU Branch, El Dorado
  4. Garland County Community College, Hot Springs
  5. Pulaski Tech, Little Rock

State Entities

  1. Capitol Hill Apartments, Little Rock
  2. Arkansas Supreme Court Building's doors, Little Rock
  3. Employment Security Office, Little Rock
  4. Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock
  5. Revenue Office, Wynne

DRC has also sought compliance with Title II by filing suit in federal court or by filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. Below are those cases.

  • Camden, Hampton, El Dorado and Warren - sidewalks - complaints filed with U.S. Department of Justice. Department of Transportation took over case and cities agreed to complete self evaluation and transition plans regarding sidewalks.
  • Pulaski Tech, North Little Rock campus - complaint filed with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Complaint was settled with mediation.
  • Brookland School District - complaint filed with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Complaint under investigation.
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Disability Rights Center (DRC) • 1100 N. University, Suite 201 • Little Rock, AR 72207
(800) 482-1174 V/TTY • (501) 296-1775 V/TTY • FAX (501) 296-1779