ERC received complaints about inaccessible parking in D.C., which led to an investigation. In a lawsuit against the city, ERC alleged that parking meters in the city were not accessible to people using wheelchairs and that the District failed to recognize out-of-state disability parking placards. The two parties reached a settlement requiring the District to make its 17,000 parking meters more accessible, ensure each block with a parking meter has a curb ramp, and remove sidewalk barriers to ensure accessible routes to the meters. Additionally, new legislation restored the ability of persons with disabilities to use out-of-state parking permits in the District. The impact of this historic case and settlement is still on display in D.C. today, and jurisdictions across the country have followed suit to ensure parking accessibility.
Equal Rights Center v. District of Columbia
