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Acting AAG Schlozman Remarks on Project Civil Access
1
PREPARED REMARKS OF
ACTING ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL BRADLEY J. SCHLOZMAN
PROJECT CIVIC ACCESS CELEBRATION
JULY 25, 2005
It is a pleasure for me to be with all of you today. This year we have the honor of
celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA is a
resounding success story ; it has opened doors and torn down barriers that once prevented
millions of individuals from making their full contributions to American life. Because of the
ADA, people with disabilities are no longer relegated to the background, but are instead actively
participating in the forefront of Americas future.
As one of his first acts in office, President Bush issued his New Freedom Initiative,
which was designed to improve the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities. At the heart
of the New Freedom Initiative is a deep and abiding commitment to full implementation of the
ADA. A promise that people with disabilities will gain the freedom to work, to play, and to
participate as full members of their communities.

We in the Civil Rights Division take the Presidents challenge seriously. Since the
beginning of this Administration we have achieved results for people with disabilities in over
1,600 actions, including lawsuits, settlement agreements, letters of resolution, and successful
mediations. Our efforts will continue until the promise of the ADA becomes a reality. 2
Achieving compliance is our core mission. It involves a coordinated effort of technical
assistance, alternative dispute resolution, and where necessary, litigation. It also involves laying
the foundation of trust with the disability community and building cooperative relationships with
local governments and businesses.
For example, through our ADA Business Connection we are creating partnerships
between people with disabilities and businesses. More than 50 million Americans with
disabilities 18% of our population are potential customers for businesses of all types across
the United States. This group, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, has $175 billion in
discretionary spending power. By the year 2030, 71.5 million Baby Boomers will be over the
age of 65 and in need of products, services, and environments that address their age-related
physical changes. In all candor, even at age 34, I find myself occasionally in need of such
products and services. By working together, these groups are learning that accessibility is about
more than the law. Its about expanding markets - dollars and cents. (Even a lawyer can do that
simple math)
To enhance our ADA business connection efforts, I am announcing today a new ADA
online course entitled, Reaching Out to Customers with Disabilities. This interactive course is
designed to educate small business owners about their obligations to, and the benefits of serving,
customers with disabilities. The course is available on our ADA.gov website, which has proven
to be a powerful tool in providing technical assistance to businesses and local governments. In
fact, it had over 29.3 million hits last year. 3
Id like now to turn to another set of partnerships, which is the main focus of our
ceremony today the network of partnerships between the Department of Justice and state and
local governments that make up Project Civic Access. Project Civic Access is a Department of
Justice initiative to promote accessible public buildings, programs, and services. Already
through PCA, more than 1 million Americans with a disability now live in accessible
communities. PCA agreements involve countless hours by Department investigators, attorneys,
and architects, who work in conjunction with local governments, to identify facilities and
services needing modifications. The final result is an agreement, reached outside of the
courtroom, that takes the steps necessary to make core government functions more accessible.
Today I am pleased to announce 22 new agreements with cities and counties across the
country. These agreements are more than signatures on a piece of paper. They signify that in
town halls and voting booths, 9-1-1 systems and emergency preparedness programs, and parks
and convention centers, people with disabilities are able to more fully participate in everyday
activities.
Joining us today are representatives from eight communities who will be signing
agreements: Miami, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Tucson, Arizona;
Allen County, Indiana; Will County, Illinois; Monroe County, New York; and Prince Georges
County, Maryland: I salute them for their commitment to improving their communities for all
citizens, including citizens with disabilities. 4
Fourteen other communities, who are not here with us, will also be signing agreements
today. They are Crittenden County, Arkansas; Hartford, Connecticut; Ada County, Idaho; Gary,
Indiana; Washington County, Maine; St. Louis County, Minnesota; Omaha, Nebraska; Paterson,
New Jersey; Providence, Rhode Island; Laurens County, South Carolina; Madison County,
Tennessee; Amarillo, Texas; Webb County, Texas; and Loudoun County, Virginia;
In addition, during the past year we have reached agreements in 13 other areas. They are
Sedona, Arizona; Carpinteria and San Luis Obispo, California; Lafayette County, Florida;
Hutchinson, Kansas; Missoula County, Montana; Cheshire County, New Hampshire; Gallup,
New Mexico; Monroe County, Pennsylvania; Bend, Oregon; Florence County, South Carolina;
Washington County, Utah; and Suffolk, Virginia.
While these cities and counties are taking their first steps toward more accessible
communities, another city is honored today for completing its Project Civic Access agreement --
Dodge City, Kansas. Once again, my home state of Kansas is at the forefront. I want to
recognize the two City employees who led Dodge Citys efforts - Ms. Cherise Tieben (Tee -
Ben), Human Resources Director and ADA Coordinator, and Mr. Kurt Nietling (Neat - Ling),
former Construction Coordinator and now Director of Parks. 5
Mr. Kurt Nietling is responsible for much of the hands on work required under the
agreement. The quality of his workmanship on modifications to ramps, walkways, and
restrooms stood out for its precision. Mr. Nietling modestly explained that Dodge City takes the
ADA seriously and understands how small differences in the slopes of ramps or the width of
doorways make a big difference to the individuals relying on them.
In her role as ADA Coordinator, Ms. Cherise Tieben guided the implementation of the
settlement agreement, and met all deadlines with comprehensive monitoring reports. Ms.
Tiebens attention to detail greatly aided our review of the Citys progress.
These dedicated public employees helped the Department and the City to achieve a
successful resolution and are recognized today for their superlative compliance efforts. Ms.
Tieben and Mr. Nietling, please come forward to accept these plaques as a token of our
appreciation, and, if you would like, to say a few words.
[presentation of plaques, opportunity for Ms. Tieben to speak; Mr. Nietling has expressed his
preference for NOT speaking]
Thank you so much Ms. Tieben for your remarks and for the efforts that you and Mr.
Nietling have made to make Project Civic Access a great success in Dodge City. 6
This is just one example of the progress that Project Civic Access is bringing to
communities across America. After todays ceremony we will have signed a total of 135 PCA
agreements. Each change agreed to represents a vital step in achieving a new freedom for people
with disabilities and the opportunity to enjoy civic life on the same basis as everyone else. Many
of these fixes are very simple, some are daunting. But the changes taking place have something
in common. That commonality is he vision and heart of people like those here today, who are
doing their part to achieve the Presidents goal of an America where there are no insignificant
lives and where everyone belongs.