FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CR

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1998

YMCA OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA TO BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES UNDER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Nebraska chapter of the YMCA will make

its facilities accessible to people with disabilities by removing
barriers and ensuring that new renovations comply with federal
disability law, under an agreement reached with the Justice
Department.

The agreement, reached last week, resolves a complaint filed

with the Justice Department alleging the Fremont, Nebraska YMCA
violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It alleged
that additions and renovations at the YMCA did not conform to the
accessibility requirements of the ADA. Under the agreement, the
YMCA will make appropriate modifications to the recently completed
renovations and remove other barriers to access to people with
mobility impairments.

The ADA requires that all new construction and alterations

begun after January 26, 1992, be built in accordance with the law's
Standards for Accessible Design. The standards set forth specific
architectural requirements which ensure construction is fully
accessible to people with disabilities.

"All Americans should be able to participate fully in programs

and activities available in their communities, such as those
available at the YMCA," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for
Civil Rights Bill Lann Lee.

Under the agreement, the Fremont YMCA will, for example:

enlarge the existing elevator shaft, which has been

vacant, and install an elevator;

re-stripe the existing accessible parking stalls to

provide an accessible parking space;

ensure that the men's and women's locker rooms are

accessible;

provide accessible signage for the lobby restrooms, upper

level restrooms, and exits;
 install water fountains that can be used by people who
use wheelchairs and make various doors accessible.

A portion of the work has been completed already and all of

the work will be completed within 6 months.

"We appreciate the cooperative efforts of the YMCA in

resolving this complaint," added Lee.

Title III of the ADA requires public accommodations, including

exercise facilities, to comply with the law's new construction
design standards and to remove barriers to access for existing
buildings where "readily achievable" to do so. Readily achievable
is defined as neither too costly nor too difficult to achieve.

Individuals or public accommodations who wish to learn more

about the ADA are encouraged to contact the Justice Department's
ADA technical assistance hotline at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800)
514-0383 (TDD) or to access the ADA Internet home page at
http://www.usdoj/crt/ada/adahom.1.htm. Last year President Clinton
participated in a public service announcement, which aired on
hundreds of radio stations across the country, touting the ADA
hotline.

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98-185