The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announces that the Woodstock Inn & Resort, Woodstock, Vermont has agreed to complete specific modifications to come into compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA"). Title III of the ADA prohibits a public accommodation from denying an individual or a class of individuals, on the basis of a disability, the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of an entity. Title III requires a public accommodation to remove architectural barriers to access in existing facilities where it is readily achievable to do so. The United States Attorney’s Office’s investigation began following a complaint made to the Vermont Human Rights Commission regarding the accessibility of the Woodstock Inn & Resort.
An onsite survey of the Woodstock Inn and Resort performed by United States Department of Justice architects revealed ADA compliance issues related to the parking areas, exterior routes, entrances, lobby, bars and dining areas, toilet rooms, representative guest rooms, designated accessible guest rooms, and the spa. The Woodstock Inn & Resort has remedied some of the ADA compliance issues identified and has agreed to a work schedule stating that most of ADA compliance issues identified will be addressed by the end of 2016 and all agreed to changes will be made by the end of 2019.
The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s owners recognized the obligation to address the issues identified in the onsite survey. The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s owners and their representatives are to be commended for their cooperation with the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont.
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont worked in partnership with Tracey Tsugawa and Karen Richards of the Vermont Human Rights Commission in addressing and resolving these important civil rights issues. Assistant United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest, with assistance from the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, handled this matter on behalf of the United States and is working with other Vermont businesses to resolve their ADA compliance issues. Further information on the ADA and its requirements may be found at www.ada.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
