EXECUTIVE ORDER EO
93-03
IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
WHEREAS,
Washington has a strong history of protecting the rights of people with
disabilities through such laws and regulations as the Washington State Law
Against Discrimination and the Barrier Free Design Standards; and
WHEREAS,
the Americans with Disabilities Act strengthens and clarifies the rights of the
over half a million Washingtonians with disabilities by further opening the
doors of opportunity and Inclusion; and
WHEREAS,
the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all services, programs, and
activities, when viewed in their entirety, be readily accessible to and usable
by people with disabilities, whether such services and programs are directly
provided by state agencies or through purchase agreements or other contracts;
and
WHEREAS,
Washington will not be meeting its most basic responsibility until all
Washingtonians can equally participate in and enjoy the benefits of state
services and programs.
NOW,
THEREFORE, I, Mike Lowry, Governor of the State of
Washington, do hereby order and direct as follows:
1. No
state agency, board, or commission under the executive branch shall
discriminate against an individual on the basis of disability. Individuals with
disabilities, whether state employees, applicants, clients of state services,
or members of the general public, shall be treated with respect and dignity and
provided meaningful access to state services, programs, activities, and
employment opportunities.
2. Each
executive branch agency shall appoint an ADA coordinator to execute a
self-evaluation and transition plan and oversee implementation of the ADA.
3. Executive
branch agencies shall ensure that public meetings, hearings, and conferences
are held in locations free of mobility barriers, and that sign language
interpreters and information In alternate forms (Braille, large print, or audio
tapes) shall be provided upon request.
4. In
communicating with employees, applicants, clients of services, or the general
public, all state agencies shall ensure that Telecommunication Devices for the
Deaf (TDDs), sign language interpreters, and Information in alternate formats
shall be provided upon request.
5. The
director of the Department of General Administration shall ensure that all
newly-constructed buildings or those undergoing major renovation comply fully
with the state barrier free code. The director shall submit the architectural
design development plans for newly-constructed buildings and renovations in
excess of $5 million over which he has oversight authority to a panel for
review prior to final approval. The panel shall also provide barrier-free
access review for plans submitted by the Department of Transportation, natural
resource agencies, and institutions of higher education. The panel shall be
comprised of representatives from the state Building Code Council, the
Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, and the Office of
Financial Management.
6. The
Governor's ADA coordinator shall establish a task force to assist state
agencies to meet the objectives of this executive order. The task force shall
develop consistent policies on the provision of reasonable accommodation and
sign language interpreters, the location of TDDs and Braille printers, and
other policies that affect all state agencies. The task force shall be
comprised of state employees and citizens with expertise in particular ADA
issues and shall be convened by the Governor's ADA coordinator as needed.
7. This
executive order supersedes Executive Order 79-03, which is hereby rescinded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto
set my hand and caused
the seal of the State
of Washington to be
affixed at Olympia
this 24th day of
February A.D., Nineteen hundred and ninety-three.
MIKE LOWRY
Governor of Washington
BY THE GOVERNOR:
_________________________________
Assistant Secretary of
State
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