Disability Rights Cases
Tidewater Community College
On May 6, 2021 the United States executed a settlement agreement with Tidewater Community College under Title II of the ADA regarding its program access, as part of the Section's Veterans Access Program. The agreement ensures veterans and other individuals with disabilities will have access to education programs, services, facilities, and activities at Tidewater Community College, which is comprised of 1/3 military and veteran students, and has the largest African American undergraduate enrollment in Virginia.
City of Virginia Beach, Virginia
On April 18, 2024, the Justice Department entered into a settlement agreement under Title II of the ADA with the City of Virginia Beach, VA, a jurisdiction that has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country, many with service-connected disabilities. Under the agreement, the City will ensure the accessibility of its facilities, curb ramps, websites, and emergency management procedures, that it provides effective communication in its programs, and that it trains City staff about the requirements of the ADA.
U.S. v. Consulate Management Company III, LLC.
On August 17, 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia entered into a settlement agreement with the Consulate Management Company III, LLC (CMC) pursuant to Title III of the ADA. The settlement agreement resolved a complaint that a facility managed by CMC refused to accept an individual who is deaf and uses American Sign Language (“ASL”) as her primary means of communication, into the care facility because she needed sign language interpretive services to ensure effective communication. The agreement requires the company to comply with the ADA's effective communication requirements at the facilities it manages, to have in place a system for providing qualified interpreters, training, reporting, and the payment of compensatory damages.
Goochland Powhatan Community Services
Goochland and Powhatan Counties, Virginia, failed to provide auxiliary aids and services, including a qualified sign language interpreter, to ensure effective communication with an individual who is deaf. The agreement includes adoption of a model assessment of communication needs, designation of an ADA Coordinator and ADA Deputy Coordinator, training staff, maintenance of an auxiliary aid and service log, implementation of a grievance resolution mechanism for the investigation of complaints regarding effective communication, notice of the new policy to the community, six-month reports to the Department, and written notification to the Department of future complaints.
U.S. v. Essex Rehabilitation & Care Center, LLC
On July 7, 2022, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia entered into a settlement agreement with the Essex Rehabilitation & Care Center, LLC pursuant to Title III of the ADA. The settlement agreement resolved a complaint that the facility refused to accept an individual who is deaf and uses American Sign Language (“ASL”) as her primary means of communication, into the care facility because she needed sign language interpretive services to ensure effective communication. The agreement requires the company to comply with the ADA's effective communication requirements at 13 facilities, to have in place a system for providing qualified interpreters, training, reporting, and the payment of compensatory damages.
JCR Companies
On June 8, 2021, the United States reached a resolution of an allegation under Title III of the ADA that three building owners in Washington, D.C., failed to alter their facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, to the maximum extent feasible. Two of the buildings had steps at the entrances and one did not have enough space at the entrance for wheelchair users to open the door and go in on their own. The agreement requires all 19 building owners to hire an architect to check their buildings in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to make sure the buildings can be used by people with disabilities.