Portland and Multnomah County Sued Over Inaccessible Emergency Systems for People with Disabilities
A federal lawsuit has been filed against the City of Portland and Multnomah County by Disability Rights Oregon, Disability Law United, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the law firm Cambreleng & Marton. The lawsuit alleges that the emergency management systems in these jurisdictions fail to adequately protect people with disabilities, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Oregon law. The complaint highlights that emergency alerts and warnings are often shared in formats that exclude Deaf individuals, such as maps without descriptive text and videos without captions or ASL interpretation. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that the city and county lack reliable evacuation assistance for people with disabilities, including those in high-rises, psychiatric facilities, and group homes. The plaintiffs are seeking a court declaration that the current emergency planning and response programs are in violation of federal and state laws and demand the implement... 
