The Justice Department recently announced a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make the Golden Corral in Farmington, New Mexico, accessible to persons with disabilities. The Golden Corral was investigated in conjunction with the department’s Project Civic Access, a Civil Rights Division initiative to ensure that cities, towns, counties and local businesses throughout the country comply with the ADA. The investigation revealed that the restaurant required architectural modifications to make it accessible to persons with disabilities.

Golden Corral Corp., headquartered in North Carolina, worked cooperatively with the department after the architectural barriers to access were identified and agreed to remedy the barriers in compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 standards). Under the agreement, the Golden Corral will physically modify its:

• designated accessible parking spaces;

• counter;

• men’s Room signage, mirrors, coat hook and accessible toilet stall; and

• women’s Room signage, coat hook and accessible toilet stall.

“As we continue our yearlong celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the enactment of the ADA, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department renews its commitment to the full and fair enforcement of this historic civil rights law, for large and small venues, alike,” said Principal Deputy Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division. “Accessibility in local businesses is equally important so that people with disabilities be able to enjoy goods and services in their own neighborhood.”

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination by public accommodations, such as restaurants, and requires that persons with disabilities have full and equal enjoyment of a restaurant’s goods, services, facilities, privileges and advantages. The ADA also requires restaurants to make accommodations for persons with disabilities. In addition, businesses have an ongoing obligation to remove architectural barriers to make their businesses accessible to persons with disabilities. The department and Small Business Administration have provided an ADA Guide for Small Businesses describing the obligations under the ADA, as well as tax credits and deductions available, at http://www.ada.gov//smbustxt.htm. People interested in finding out more about the ADA or this agreement can call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY), or access its ADA Web site at www.ada.gov.