 Respond to complaints of inaccessibility and other forms of disability discrimination by enforcing state and federal laws to protect the rights of people with disabilities.  Conduct investigations, negotiate and litigate.  Provide information and referral services on disability-related questions.  Committees, legislation and public awareness.

 Americans with Disabilities Act  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act  Illinois Environmental Barriers Act  Illinois Highway Code

 Title II of the ADA  Prohibits public entities (state and local government) from discriminating against or excluding people with disabilities from their “services, programs, and activities.” 42 U.S.C. §  Sidewalks are a service, program, or activity subject to Title II program access regulations  Barden v. City of Sacramento, 292 F.3d 1073 (9 th Cir. 2002)  ADA is a civil rights law  Inaccessible sidewalks constitute discrimination because they deny a person with a disability the “ability to become a self-reliant member of the community.” Lonberg v. City of Riverside, 2007 WL (C.D. Cal. 2007).

 New Construction  full compliance with “readily accessible to and usable by” people with disabilities requirement (Built after Jan. 26, 1992)  Alterations  Compliance to the “maximum extent feasible” with “readily accessible to and usable by” people with disabilities requirement (Altered after January 26, 1992) 28 CFR (b)

 Newly constructed or altered highways or walkways trigger curb ramp requirements 28 CFR (i). See also, Kinney v. Yerusalim, 9 F.3d 1067 (3rd Cir. 1993)  Existing Facilities Program Access (Built before Jan. 26, 1992)

 Accessible features of the facility and equipment must be maintained in operable working condition. 28 C.F.R. § (a)  Only temporary interruptions are ok ▪ Maintenance or repairs  Curb ramps under construction must be fixed promptly  Temporary access during construction

 Governs physical access for people with disabilities.  Its implementing regulation, the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC), dictates the minimum requirements for accessibility to facilities located in Illinois. Effective May 1,  Applies to new construction, additions and alterations.

 ADA requirements:  State of local government agencies employing 50 or more employees shall have a designated employee (ADA coordinator) and complaint procedures– 28 C.F.R. §  Illinois requirements:  Publish on their website the name, office address, and telephone number of the ADA coordinator, if any;  Grievance procedures, if any, for resolving complaints regarding the accessibility of the Title II entities facilities, programs, services, or activities.  Applies to municipalities, counties and townships  Effective January 1, 2010

 Curb Ramp for Each Pedestrian Crossing (R207.1)  Single curb ramp allowed for alterations (R2070.2)  Detectable Warnings (R208.1)  Curb ramps at pedestrian street crossing  Pedestrian refuge islands (≥ 6 ft)  Rail crossings/boarding platforms at transit stops  Commercial drives with traffic control

 All ramps and raised crossings must have detectable warnings to provide notice underfoot of the change from a pedestrian to a vehicular route.

 Required on curb ramps at:  Transit facilities (§406.8, DOT standards)  FHWY funded projects  Public sidewalks (recommended – PROWAG and IDOT)  Boarding platform edges  Not required on curb ramps or hazardous vehicular areas at: Facilities (non ‐ transit) located on sites

 Full width of the curb ramp (excluding side flares)  24” deep minimum measured from the back of the curb

 R Contrast  Light on Dark  Dark on Light  Yellow is best color for pedestrians with low vision  R Size  2.0 ft minimum in the direction of travel  Full width of ramp run (excluding flares)

 Perpendicular Curb Ramps  Back of Curb  Grade Break  Lower Landing  Parallel Curb Ramps  Turning space at back of curb

 27 in < Objects ≤ 80 in  4 in maximum protrusion  Applies to entire pedestrian circulation path

 Protruding Object Zones

 General  Pedestrian Signals shall have APS and pedestrian pushbuttons  Comply with MUTCD 4E.08 through 4E.13  Alterations  Signal controller and software are altered  Signal head replaced  Operable Parts  2” Diameter Use with Closed Fist

 When the pedestrian access route is detoured, provide an alternate route; same ‐ side is best, if feasible (in MUTCD)

Illinois Accessibility Code nvironmental_barriers.html ADA Information – Access Board board.gov (800) Department of Justice (800)

 Illinois Department of Transportation ADA Coordinator  Juliet Shoultz   (217)  FHWA Illinois Division  Traci Baker, Civil Rights Specialist   (217)

 Local Level  ADA Coordinator  Human Rights Commission  State Level  Illinois Attorney General  Illinois Department of Human Rights  Federal Level  Designated federal agency ▪ DOJ, DOT, DOE, etc.

Vickie Simpson, Policy Advisor Office of the Attorney General Disability Rights Bureau 500 S. Second Street Springfield, Illinois (217) or (217) (877) (tty)

Peter Berg Project Coordinator of Technical Assistance Great Lakes ADA Center (MC 728) 1640 W. Roosevelt Road · Room 405 Chicago, IL (312) (V/TTY) or (800) (V/TTY)