University working toward fulfilling accessibility requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act

The University reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department in early July that will lead to continued work on providing accessibility in accordance with the public accommodations requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Under the agreement, the University will upgrade its existing accessibility.

That work will be done in a way that is least disruptive to the various offices and departments involved, said Ingrid Gould, Assistant Vice-President and Associate Provost in the Office of the President.

The University also agreed to make people more aware of the ways in which campus buildings, transportation and campus pathways are accessible, she said.

The agreement follows a compliance review initiated by the Justice Department in 2004.

The review was initiated by the department as part of its efforts to examine accessibility at universities and other institutions and was not the result of a complaint, Gould said.