For Immediate Release
Contact: Sheila McCant
LA House of Representatives
Office of Public Information
Phone: (225) 342-9795
FAX: (225) 219-4380
April 27, 1999
ADA COMPLIANCE TOPS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA The Louisiana Legislature has taken great strides to make the historic State Capitol user-friendly for all citizens. Working to make the building and grounds ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliant, numerous changes have been implemented and completed, including the naming of an ADA coordinator, providing information locations in the building, providing legislation in braille and creating an information web site of disability services.To further provide and enhance access for the mobility impaired, parking has been revamped, increased and improved. A total of 12 parking places are now available. Five mobility impaired entrances to the building are available and a consistent signage system, with braille designation, has been installed throughout. Elevators, restrooms, and committee rooms in both the House and Senate have been upgraded to meet ADA requirements.
Once the building has been accessed, four locations are available for citizens to request disability services. These locations include the visitor information desk on the first floor, the House Clerk’s Office in Room G106 (ground floor), the Senate Secretary’s Office, Room B243, and the Senate Information Desk, also located on the Ground Floor. Tour guides are also available at the visitor information desk on the first floor.
For those citizens interested in tracking the legislative process, interpretive services and assisted listening devices (portable infrared receivers with headphones) are available for use in the House and Senate committee rooms and chambers. Requests for assisted listening devices in House committee rooms should be made one hour in advance to the sergeant-at- arms stationed in the room. No advance notice is required for the devices in the House chamber and are available from the sergeant at arms information desk on the first floor in Memorial Hall. In the Senate, requests for use of the devices in committee rooms or in the Senate Chamber should be made one hour in advance to Jerry Guillot, Room B-243 or by calling 342-2040.
Requests for interpretive services as well as braille or large print bills must be made 48 hours in advance. There is no additional charge for braille or large print bills. The cost is 25 cents for every two pages. Facsimile transmission of bills is available for $1 per page. There is a minimum postage charge on bills mailed of $1.50. A minimum mailing fee of $1.50 is assessed plus 25 cents for every two pages.
A TTY/TDD telephone line is available for the hearing impaired who wish to communicate with the House or Senate. The telephone number is (225) 219-4688. TTY/TDD public telephones are also available on the ground floor of the building.
A video featuring highlights of the capitol and a view from the observation tower is available at public kiosks in the building. A second video, entitled "Louisiana's State Capitol" can be purchased for $2.50 through the Louisiana Capitol Foundation. Both are closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
For a complete list of services, please visit the "Services Information for People with Disabilities" section of the legislative website at www.legis.state.la.us Text and audio versions of this entire site are available. A map of the capitol, indicating disability access points, is included. A grievance procedure has been compiled in accordance with ADA regulations and is also available at this site.
Special requests should be directed to Gabrielle Kuhlow, ADA Coordinator at (225) 342-8571, or by e-mail at kuhlowg@legis.state.la.us.
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