FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2002 WWW.USDOJ.GOV CRT (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C. The Mel Tillis Theater in Branson, Missouri, reached an agreement today with the Justice Department that ensures that the theater will be accessible to patrons with disabilities.
The settlement agreement resolves an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance review conducted by the Justice Department. As operators of the theater complex, the Mel Tillis organization agreed to comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design in renovating the theater, which was subject to the new construction requirements when it was built in 1994. For the first time, the theater will have accessible seating areas. Access will also be improved in the theater's parking lot, lobby, snack bar, gift shop, public restrooms and auditorium.
"I appreciate Mel Tillis's efforts to make his legendary musical performances accessible to all his fans, including persons who have disabilities," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Ralph F. Boyd, Jr. "I hope that others in the Branson entertainment community will follow the lead of the Mel Tillis organization in increasing accessibility for its patrons." The Mel Tillis Theater is the second Branson-area theater to agree to comply with the ADA this year, following the White House Theater, which entered into a similar agreement with the Justice Department in March of 2002. Under today's agreement, the Mel Tillis Theater will: ensure that all accessible parking spaces are designated by ADA-compliant signage; provide accessible ticket counters, concession counters, and pay telephones in the theater lobby; install accessibility features in the men's and women's public restrooms; install new designated wheelchair seating areas and fixed companion seating in the theater auditorium, and new accessible aisle seats for transfer from wheelchairs; implement new ticketing policies for customers for disabilities, so that designated wheelchair seating is held for customers with disabilities until all other seating is full; and ensure that new headsets and receivers are provided to persons with hearing impairments for use with the auditorium's assistive listening system.
Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination by public accommodations and commercial facilities against persons with disabilities. In particular, it requires that new and altered facilities comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and that existing facilities remove architectural barriers where removal of such barriers is readily achievable. People interested in finding out more about the ADA or the agreement can call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA home page at: http://www.ada.gov. 02-450
Source: US Department of Justice
