WASHINGTON, DC––Court-ordered mediation has failed to resolve a long-standing suit against the District of Columbia by United Spinal Association and the Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington charging that DC’s parking regulations discriminate against individuals with disabilities.

Untied Spinal, a national disability rights organization, and the Disability Rights Council filed the suit in April, 2004 in the US District Court for the District of Columbia (Civil Action No. 03-0529). They are represented by the Washington DC office of Morrison & Foester and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Initial disclosure and documents are due on October 18th, when District Court Judge John D. Bates will establish the trial schedule.

The suit alleges that the District’s 17,000 parking meters art totally inaccessible because they cannot be reached by someone in a wheelchair or are surrounded by trees, curbs, flower boxes, or cracked sidewalk pavements; the handicap parking placard program requires unnecessary personal medical information from applicants and imposes redundant hurdles to obtain and renew such placards; and finally, there is no “reciprocity” for handicap placards and/or licenses issued by other states, i.e. out-of-state placards are not accepted in DC, which means that anyone not living in the District must apply for and renew a DC placard

The suit was originally launched in response to concerns that thousands of World War Two veterans with disabilities––most of whom would be from out of state––would be unable to obtain handicapped parking placards or find adequate parking to attend the dedication of the new World War II Memorial at the National Mall on Memorial Day, 2004. The dedication ceremony was unmarred by parking problems, but the civil suit proceeded as United Spinal and its co-plaintiffs sought a permanent remedy.

United Spinal’s Program Counsel Kleo King said “Naturally, we are disappointed that mediation failed and that we must assume the expense and the administrative burden of a trial, she said. “We remain confident, however, that we will prevail and the District of Columbia will one day be more accommodating to drivers with disabilities from all over the country.”