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Home My WebLink AboutIR 7577 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7577 "p,14,0 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 28, 1992 Subject: AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT UPDATE Summary. The Americans with Disabilities Act became effective for state and local government on January 26, 1992. This Informal Report updates the Council on actions taken to date and steps to be implemented by the City to comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Background. The City Council was briefed on the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) by Informal Report 7756 on October 1, 1991. That Informal Report described the five Titles of the ADA, with particular emphasis on Title II which covers state and local governments, and listed suggested steps for implementation. Since that time, a number of actions have been taken. Department Heads were briefed as a group on the provisions of the ADA. Department Heads have appointed individual departmental ADA coordinators to assist the City's overall ADA Coordinator, Libby Lanzara. This thirty member internal task force attended a training session on December 12, 1991 which included outside trainers from the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and from REACH (Rehabilitation, Education, and Advocacy for Citizens with Handicaps), an advocacy group for people with disabilities. An ADA sub-committee of the Mayor's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities was created to serve as an advisory group on the City's compliance effort. This community committee is comprised of approximately thirty citizens, some with disabilities and some who work for organizations supporting them. This group has agreed to assist the City with its self-evaluation plan; their membership list is attached. The ADA sub-committee met for four hours at Will Rogers Memorial Center on January 8, 1992, with the City's in-house task force to discuss the City's compliance program. Greeted by Mayor Granger, the group suggested a large number of recommendations for inclusion in the City's self- evaluation related to a variety of disabilities as they would affect the programs and services of the various departments. These comments will be synthesized and sent out for feedback and will constitute the beginning of our Self-Evaluation Plan. The Act requires Public Notices providing information on where to call for information on rights, to report complaints, or to request an accommodation. Such notices were posted on City buildings and bulletin boards prior to the January 26, 1992 effective date. Our short range compliance plans include: Adoption of a formal grievance procedure whereby complaints alleging non- compliance with ADA can be promptly resolved. Inclusion on all public meeting notices of a statement that people with disabilities should notify the ADA Coordinator of any accommodations that would be required for them to attend the meeting, e.g. interpreter, listening devices, etc. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ............ 'FINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7577 Ap T(A, January 28, 1992 0 fo;??, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 3 0 X Subject: AMERICANS WITH DISABELITIEES ACT UPDATE Re-writing of all city job descriptions to include "essential functions" required to perform the duties of each city job. This activity has begun and will be an on-going process. Requiring all physical examinations be conducted only after job offers have been made. Physical examinations will be based on the applicant's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. The ADA Coordinator will review all situations where a person with a disability is unable to perform an essential function. Accommodations will be researched and job offers made when reasonable accommo- dations can be made. Continuation of the development of the City's self-evaluation plan, which reviews accessibility of City programs, services, and facilities. The self-evaluation plan, required under Tide II, must seek public input and be kept on file for three (3) years. Development of the City's transition plan which is the blueprint for the City's plan to remedy structural barriers over the next three years; remedies will be costed out and given a priority ranking. Achievement of this rigorous timetable will require the City's numerous facilities (which include buildings, parks, parking lots, etc.) be surveyed for accessibility. The method of performing this volume of work in a very short period is under discussion and varies from utilizing in-house staff to hiring outside consultants. The cost of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be substantial. Although a number of accommodations can be accomplished within existing appropriations, it is apparent that eliminating structural barriers, e.g., retrofitting restrooms, curb cuts, redesigning counters, changing out door hardware, building ramps, etc. and making reasonable accommodations, e.g. purchasing auxiliary aids and services such as providing interpreters, readers, telephonic devices for the deaf (TDD), making printed material available in other formats (audio, braille, etc.) will require significant budget expenditures. Periodically, staff will be bringing to Council periodically recommendations for expenditures that will assist the City in complying with the provisions of ADA and make the facilities, services and programs accessible to people with disabilities. A proclamation is on the City Council agenda today proclaiming Americans with Disabilities Act Week. Representatives from the disability community who have been assisting the City will be present. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7577 ��,p ��,P T ��,P T 14,0 January 28, 1992 ;�,.j i�op To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 3 of 3 ueA. 0 0 nx 0 Subject: AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT UPDATE eTs We will continue to keep City Council informed through regular updates on the City's efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have questions, please call Libby Lanzara, ADA Coordinator, at 871-8552. 5"�, U;Q—q DAVID IVORY CITY MANAGER DI:n ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS uu MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ADA AD HOC TASK FORCE AGENCIES: Thomas Bruener Community Outreach Center Robin Echols, PhD 1125 West Peter Smith Rehabilitation Director Ft. Worth, TX 76104 Goodwill Industri�as of Ft. Worth 335-1994 P. 0. Box 1408 Ft. Worth, TX 76101 Bea Hilton 332-7866 Community Outreach Center 1125 West Peter Smith Harriet Harral Ft. Worth, TX 76104 Board Member 335-1994 Goodwill Industries of Ft. Worth P. 0. Box 1408 Allan R. Clemons Ft. Worth, TX 76101 Industrial Program Coord. 332-7866 Easter Seal Society for Children and Adults of Tarrant County Judy Threadgill 617 7th Ave. Program Manager Ft. Worth, Texas 76104 MHMR 1701 W. Freeway Jess L. Hall Ft. Worth, TX 76102 President, CEO 870-1159, ext. 353 Easter Seal Society for Children and Adults of Tarrant County Jim B. Grey 617 7th Ave. Executive Director Ft. Worth, Texas 76104 National Paraplegia Foundation 3400 Hulen o r Marsha McCleen Ft. Worth, TX 76107 Sponsor of "SHHH" Group 737-6661 Easter Seal Society for Children and Adults of Tarrant County Francy Kragle 617 7th Ave. Executive Director Ft. Worth, Texas 76104 NCTX Epilepsy Association 617 7th Ave. Lisa Grier Ft. Worth, TX 76104-2799 Expanco 336-8693 3005 Wichita Ct. Ft. Worth, TX 76140 Scott Haynes 293-9486 Outreach/Advocacy Coord. REACH Pat Ring 617 Seventh Ave. Executive Director Ft. Worth, TX 76104 Expanco 870-9082 3005 Wichita Ct. Ft. Worth, TX 76140 Dorothy Surraut 293-9486 Regional Director Texas Commission for Blind Chris Sparks 3628 McCart Ave. Interpretive Services Ft. Worth, TX 76110 Goodrich Center for Deaf 926-4646 2500 Lipscomb St. Ft. Worth, TX 76110 Betty Torres Marketing Employment Specialist Dan White Texas Rehabilitation Commission Public Relations Coordinator 1309 Washington Ave. Goodrich Center for Deaf Ft. Worth, TX 76104-4546 2500 Lipscomb St. Ft. Worth, TX 76110