VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A sign of progress as a baseball coach in Virginia Beach is urging the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Beach School Board to take action. He claims that many sports facilities in its public schools lack ADA-compliant restrooms.
St. Clair Jones has coached in Virginia Beach for over a decade, according to his legal representative. He claims that currently, he and others with mobility disabilities have “significant barriers” when accessing restrooms at many Virginia Beach Public School sports facilities.
His legal representative has sent a demand letter to Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer, Virginia Beach City Attorney Mark Stiles, and Virginia Beach School Board Chair Trenace Riggs. In the letter, a legal representative claims Jones is unable to gain safe and reliable access to Virginia Beach Public School baseball facilities since many of the restrooms are not ADA-compliant.
The letter further claims that the sports facilities at the following schools do not have ADA-compliant restrooms: Ocean Lakes, First Colonial, Cox, Bayside, Landstown, Princess Anne, Kempsville, Salem, Green Run and Tallwood.
According to the demand letter, if the city fails to present a plan that will make all restrooms in Virginia Beach public high school sports facilities accessible to people with disabilities, Jones and his legal team will file a lawsuit.
The demand letter sent on behalf of Jones says the city has 21 days to present a plan before further action is taken.
On Monday, the day the legal team held a press conference, a representative for Virginia Beach City Public Schools sent us the following response regarding the matter:
"Today Virginia Beach City Public Schools received Mr. St. Claire Jones and his attorney’s accessibility concerns and will comply with the attorney’s request to provide a reply within a 21-day response period."
On Tuesday, News 3 followed up with VBCPS and the law firm, Breit Biniazan. A representative for the law firm said that on Tuesday morning, they had talked with VB School Board counsel and there appeared to be some progress.
A spokesperson for VBCPS wrote to News 3 on Tuesday afternoon stating,
The matter is not on the agenda for next Tuesday for a formal discussion. The School Board counsel has spoken to Mr. St. Clair Jones’ attorney. The School Board counsel is working with the school administration to take appropriate steps to remedy the situation. Virginia Beach City Public Schools is committed to providing access and to the rights and inclusivity of all individuals.
Colleen Miller, Executive Director of the Disability Law Center of Virginia, weighed in with some information.
"The Americans with Disabilities Act has been in effect for more than 30 years at this point, and it requires that public entities like schools make all of their programs accessible to people with disabilities," Miller stated. "It’s not just the classrooms that have to be accessible to people with disabilities, but all of the programs that are offered by a public entity must be accessible."
Miller, who works with individuals and organizations across Virginia, added,"There are still public schools that are not accessible to someone in a wheelchair. It’s shocking that this many years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, so you can’t assume that if the school was unlocked he would have access to an accessible bathroom."
"The bottom line is that the programs and opportunities offered by public entities have to be accessible to people with disabilities," Miller said. "And it is not the job of the person with the disability to figure out who has to make that happen."
Stay with News 3 for further updates.
