July 20, 2006
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Jo-Ann's Stores,
Inc., one of the nation's largest fabric and craft stores.
Under terms of the agreement, Jo-Ann's 840 stores will now be accessible to people with disabilities, in line with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
"Individuals with disabilities should be able to use retail establishments like other members of the public" said Stephen J. Murphy, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.
"The improvements outlined in this settlement will make it possible for individuals with disabilities to use the stores in an unimpeded manner, and in particular, navigate the aisles freely."
"Providing the same retail shopping experience for individuals with disabilities that other patrons enjoy delivers on the promise of the ADA," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
The agreement resolves alleged violations of the ADA. The Justice Department initially conducted an investigation after it received complaints about accessibility at Jo-Ann's stores from individuals with disabilities in several states.
The investigation concluded that many of the spaces and elements of Jo-Ann's stores were not in compliance with the ADA.
Officials said Jo-Ann's worked actively and cooperatively with the Department throughout its investigation and to reach the settlement agreement, which resolves complaints from the Eastern District of Michigan, the Northern District of California, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The agreement covers entrances, the size of aisles, merchandise
display areas, fabric cutting areas, check out counters, and other
spaces and elements at new and existing stores. It requires Jo-Ann's to:
• hire an ADA Consultant to assist Jo-Ann's with implementation of
the settlement Agreement and designate a corporate ADA Coordinator;
• conduct a survey of every Jo-Ann's store for compliance with the
ADA over a four year period;
• conform all elements of each store that deviate from the ADA
Standards for Accessible
Design or that are barriers to access surveyed within one year of the
store's survey; and,
• complete ADA training of all personnel involved in the
implementation of the agreement and all store managers, and
incorporate ADA training into Jo-Ann's training curriculum for all
new employees.
