Chicago Found Liable for ADA Violations

A federal judge ruled that the City of Chicago has not provided sufficient accommodations for people with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reports Eli Ong for WGN 9. “The complaint, filed at the time by the federal government, alleged the City failed to provide people who are blind, have low vision or are deaf-blind with accessible pedestrian signals (APS’s) at intersections, e.g., the equivalent of ‘walk/don’t walk’ visual signals that indicate when it is safe to cross the street for pedestrians without visual disabilities.”

According to Ong, “fewer than 1% of intersections equipped to provide sighted pedestrians visual signals (nearly 2,800) were equipped with APS’s for people who are blind or have low vision.” This amounts to a lack of “meaningful access” to the city’s transportation network and, per a press release from Disability Rights Advocates, “may be the worst of any major metropolitan area in the United States.”

In the same press release, Jelena Kolic, Senior Staff Attorney at Disability Rights Advocates, says, “Chicago has long been famous for its walkability. Thanks to this decision, blind residents will be much better equipped to enjoy that walkability.” The decision also “sends a message to cities and towns across the state and around the country that they can no longer deny pedestrians who are blind full and equal access to signalized intersections,” says Ray Campbell, one of the plaintiffs in the case.