ATLANTA— State Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) announced today that there is now increased accessibility for persons with disabilities at the State Capitol and Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB). During the 2014 Legislative session, Rep. Waites sponsored House Bill 700 to provide increased accessibility for persons with disabilities at the State Capitol and CLOB buildings.
“I am thrilled that our collaborative efforts sent a powerful message, and now the blind and visually impaired community will have improved accessibility to the State Capitol and Coverdell Legislative Office Building,” said Rep. Waites. “The recent renovations prove that the Georgia House of Representatives stands united in support of the disabled community’s needs, particularly increased accessibility to government buildings.”
During the 2014 legislative session, the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, the Georgia Statewide Coalition on Blindness and the Georgia Council of the Blind, organizations that represent over 100,000 blind and/or visually impaired individuals throughout the State of Georgia, each came before the State Properties Committee to provide testimony in support of HB 700. Although, HB 700 did not pass during the legislative session, the bill’s introduction led to the installation of tactile and braille placards and improvements to wheel chair accessibility in these buildings.
“My greatest accomplishment to date is authoring and sponsoring HB 700, which resulted in improved compliance in Georgia’s State Capitol and the legislative office building with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” added Rep. Waites. “It is an incredible feeling to be a part of this monumental moment and to work on behalf of the disabled community.”
Representative Keisha Waites represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Special Rules, and Transportation committees.
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