
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991                   TAG: 9102220131
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

NEW RULES FOR DISABLED PROPOSED

The Bush administration proposed rules Thursday that would require businesses to make structural alterations to offices and stores to accommodate the disabled unless they can show that the expense would be too great.

The regulations, spelling out how last year's Americans with Disabilities Act will be enforced, would also require that businesses ensure that as much as possible, disabled consumers receive the same level of services as other customers, even if that means altering the way business is conducted.

The rules published Thursday follow the publication of guidelines last month in The Federal Register for enforcing the new law, which prohibits discrimination against people with physical and mental impairments in employment, transportation, telecommunications services and public accommodations.

The proposed Justice Department rules incorporate those guidelines and go further, covering what existing businesses must do.

Last month's rules simply specified the structural provisions that must be made during construction.

Under Thursday's draft rules, which are subject to revisions during a 60-day period of public comment, existing businesses would have to alter their premises to accommodate the disabled unless they can prove that the financial burden would be too great, or if they provide equivalent services outside the premises, as in delivery.

by CNB