T.

7-13-94
AUG 3 1994

Ms. Belinda Gilzow-Carlton

Executive Director
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
316 W. 12th Street, Suite 405
Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Ms. Gilzow-Carlton:

The Attorney General has asked me to respond to your letter

alleging that the Houston, Texas office of Representative Craig
Washington does not comply with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA).

Section 509(b)(3) of the ADA provides that the rights and

protections of the ADA apply to the conduct of the House of
Representatives. However, this provision is implemented and
enforced exclusively through regulations and procedures
established by the Architect of the Capitol. The Department of
Justice has no authority to investigate alleged violations of
section 509.

In addition, the space used as Representative Washington's

office may be required to comply with the Architectural Barriers
Act of 1968. That statute is enforced by the U.S. Architectural
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board).
Alleged violations of the Architectural Barriers Act may be
reported to the Access Board at 1331 F Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20004-1111.

I hope that this information is helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Deval L. Patrick
Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division

cc: Records, Chrono, Wodatch, Blizard, McDowney, FOIA, Friedlander

n:\udd\blizard\control\gilzow

01-03337​
 Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
316 W. 12th St., Suite 405
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 478-3366 V/TDD
FAX (512) 478-3370

June 14, 1994

Janet Reno
U.S. Attorney General
Department of Justice
Constitution Ave. and 10th. St.NW
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Ms. Reno:

The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities would like to make a formal

complaint against U.S. Representative Craig Washington for blatant disregard
of our civil rights under the Americans Disabilities Act. Attached is a letter
we sent to Representative Craig Washington today which lays out the history of
his willful non-compliance and our advocates' efforts to inform and work with
him to achieve compliance.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please feel free to contact me
for more information.

FOR A BARRIER FREE SOCIETY,

Belinda Gilzow-Carlton
Executive Director

cc: Devon Patrick

Civil Rights Division
U.S. Attorney General

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION

01-03338

Coalition of Texans with Disabilities

316 W. 12th St., Suite 405
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 478-3366 V/TDD
FAX (512) 478-3370
June 14, 1994

The Honorable Craig Washington

United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Washington:

Members of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities have tried

four times within the past two years to visit you or your staff at
your Houston office, but have been unable to enter your offices
because there is no accessible entrance and there is not accessible
parking places. These are two known violations of the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Because we were unable to enter the
premises the violations inside your offices are unknown.

Your staff member, Greg White, promised us that a ramp would be

installed immediately when on our appointment to discuss healthcare
reform on April 8, 1994 Glen Baker, who uses an electric
wheelchair, feel backwards onto the concrete when he attempted to
use a makeshift ramp of a piece of plywood placed against the curb
by your staff. Steve Strubbe, of the CTD staff was able to clasp
Mr. Baker's head and follow it to the ground preventing a head
injury.

Two months have passed, Mr. Washington, and there is no ramp and no
attempt to come into compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Today, Natalie Warner, of your Washington, D.C.
office has advised me that you have stated that you have no
intention to comply with the law and that our organization may take
whatever action we deem necessary.

Mr. Washington, we believed you to be a supporter of the civil

rights of Texans with disabilities. You have been a Texas
Representative; you voiced your support of disability rights at our
conference ten years ago and you have been at the same Houston
office since at least that year. Mr. Washington hold yourself out
to be a civil rights advocate. Your failure to recognize our civil
rights is incomprehensible.

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION

01-03339

The Honorable Craig Washington

June 14, 1994
Page 2

Before filing suit, Mr. Washington, we will give you 10 days to make the
corrections.

Please note that this letter does not intend to inform you of your legal
rights, but to state our position with respect to your substantial lack of
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We are also asking U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and the head of the Civil
Rights Division, Devon Patrick, to investigate.

FOR A BARRIER FREE SOCIETY,

Belinda Carlton
Executive Director

cc: Helen Malveaux, Attorney

Disability Advocacy Project
Houston

Jim Harrington, Attorney/Director

Disability Advocacy Project

Janet Reno
U. S. Attorney General

Devon Patrick
Civil Rights Division
U. S. Attorney General

Rand Metcalfe
Houston Center for Independent Living

Lee Sanders
Judy Ziegler
ADAPT of Houston

01-03340
​(Pictures) Outside U.S. Representative Craig Washington's
Houston TX office --2323 Caroline 177004

01-03341