Federal Report Finds Michigan Stadium Inaccessible to Disabled

USA Today

By The Associated Press
October 30, 2007

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The University of Michigan continues to violate a law requiring wheelchair accessibility at its football stadium and risks losing millions in financial aid, according to a federal report.

The U.S. Department of Education said in a report sent to the university on Friday that it's discriminating against people with disabilities because the stadium does not include a sufficient number of accessible seats and the seating does not provide them with the same range of choices as is provided to people without disabilities.

The university has 10 days to respond to the report. If it doesn't cooperate, the department has threatened to cut federal financial aid funding or turn over the case to the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce it.

University spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham told The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press she was surprised by the report and disagreed with its findings. She maintained the university is complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

She said a $226 million renovation of the stadium will continue as planned, and those plans include adding handicap-accessible seats. She said that project is "completely unrelated" to allegations in the federal report.

The university faces a federal lawsuit filed by the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America alleging the current stadium design is inaccessible and renovation plan won't fix the problem.

Richard Bernstein, a lawyer for the veterans, said the letter means the university should halt its renovation plans.

He plans to file a motion for summary disposition, which would end all legal arguments in the case and go to the judge for a decision.