The Utah County Republican Party and Utah Republican Party have settled a lawsuit filed by two party members over the Americans with Disabilities Act.
As part of the settlement the Utah Republican Party will update “its governing documents to reflect that ADA compliance is mandated for its political caucuses and conventions,” the Provo Daily Herald reports.
Court documents say Aaron Heineman, who is deaf, tried to arrange for an American Sign Language interpreter in 2016 to attend a local caucus so he could participate and give prepared remarks.
The lawsuit says the county GOP planned to have an interpreter from Interwest Interpreting Agency attend but canceled after the precinct chair said they had arranged for other interpreters to be there.
When Heineman arrived at the meeting on March 22, there were no interpreters present. The lawsuit says another participant attempted to interpret for Heineman as he gave his speech, but he lacked proficiency in ASL and struggled to translate.
Another plaintiff in the case, Eliza Stauffer, said she attended the April 23 Utah Republican Party State Convention as a delegate. Stauffer, who uses a wheelchair, alleged there were no designated seating areas for individuals with a disability.
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