Inclusion Daily Express -- University Will Improve Access To Settle Lawsuit

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University Will Improve Access To Settle Lawsuit
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 29, 2008

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA--To settle a federal class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of students with disabilities California State University at San Bernardino is about to invest more than $11 million to make its campus accessible.

The Disability Rights Legal Center, which represented nine current and former students, announced last week that the university has agreed to settle the December 2005 lawsuit. That suit accused the school of violating the rights of more than 300 students, along with potential students, that had run into barriers to an accessible education.

As part of the settlement, the university agreed to improve or provide accessible furniture, software, transportation, parking, evacuation policies, fire alarms, ramps, handrails, testing accommodations and note taking support.

Nearly $1.5 million will be dedicated to making campus restrooms accessible.

"We're trying to make sure that everybody who has a disability can go to school like everybody else," said Shawna Parks, director of litigation for the Disability Rights Legal Center.

Related:
"Disabled students win $11M upgrade" (San Bernardino County Sun)
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_8071492
Text of settlement (United States District Court For The Central District Of California)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0129a.htm

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