Senators discuss ADA compliance bill

It's been more than thirty years since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law.

Today, senators held a hearing on a bill by Senator Will Parkinson which would require that all government leased offices comply with the ADA.

The measure also taps the "Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities" to oversee compliance.

But Senator Joe San Agustin pointed out that DISID does not have enforcement authority that rests with the Attorney General.

While DISID social worker Jeffrey Warfield agrees, he adds that they can be effective advocates.

“If you have an ADA issue, DISID can help you, but the AG's office is the enforcers, period. Right?” He said.

Warfield continued, “So in some instances those constituents wanna be heard, they wanna know that their voice is being heard, they wanna know that there's at least somebody who can take it to another level, not necessarily going directly to the AG's office, but the way you just described the process, absolutely is correct.”

But not everyone is pleased with GovGuam's compliance with the ADA.

Evelyn Duenas has been an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities for many years.

She said, “As far as ADA is concerned, although it was implemented, came into law in 1990, we really have not followed any of it, which is very unfortunate.”

“Key question to each and every one of you, how do we rectify these problems? I'm not getting any younger honestly, I'm getting older, I'm at the point where I'm fed up being a critic to agencies in these areas,” She expressed. 

She says even some senators offices are located in buildings that are not completely ADA compliant.