Inclusion Daily Express

April 22, 2008

Settlement means dozens of hositals will improve access

By Dave Reynolds

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA -- Twenty-eight hospitals and healthcare facilities operated by Sutter Health will become more accessible to people with disabilities because of a legal agreement announced Friday.

The agreement settles a 2005 class action filed by the nonprofit law firm Disability Rights Advocates on behalf of patients with disabilities in northern California. It alleged that Sutter Health had failed to make their facilities accessible in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Many people said they had never gone thorough medical examinations because healthcare facilities were not accessible to them.

According to the Associated Press, Sutter agreed to provide accessible medical equipment and examination tables; sign language interpreters; hospital information in Braille formats or audio; along with more wheelchair ramps and more accessible parking.

"While people expect that hospitals and other medical environments will be accessible to people with disabilities, this is often not the case," said Melissa Kasnitz, an attorney at Disability Rights Advocates.

"We are extremely pleased with the commitments being made by Sutter, which, when implemented, will make it a leader in access in the health care industry."

Related:

"Sutter Health settles class action lawsuit" (The Daily Review)