T. 3-7-94
Control No. 4012502345



                                                           MAR 16 1994




The Honorable Michael Bilirakis
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
1100 Cleveland Street, Suite 1600
Clearwater, Florida 34615

Dear Congressman Bilirakis:

    This is in response to your inquiry on behalf of your
constituent,   XX    , regarding her complaint that
Smith Barney Shearson, Inc. refuses to provide financial
statements in large print.

    Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by
places of public accommodation. Places of public accommodation
include service establishments such as banks and brokers. Smith
Barney Shearson appears to be such a service establishment and,
therefore, to be a covered entity under the ADA.

    The ADA requires a public accommodation to take whatever
steps are necessary to ensure that individuals with disabilities
are not denied its services because of the absence of auxiliary
aids, unless providing the auxiliary aids would fundamentally
alter the goods and services offered by the public accommodation
or would result in an undue burden. A public accommodation is
required to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids where they are
necessary to ensure effective communication with persons with
disabilities. The provision of large print materials to persons
who have a vision impairment is one type of auxiliary aid.
Therefore, Smith Barney Shearson has an obligation to provide
appropriate auxiliary aids, such as materials in large print,
unless it can show that providing its materials in large print
would fundamentally alter its services or would cause significant
difficulty or expense. The requirement to provide auxiliary aids
is discussed in the enclosed title III regulation at p. 35597 and
in the enclosed Technical Assistance Manual at Section III-
4.3000.
         (b)(6)
    If    XX    wishes to have further information about the
requirements of the ADA, she may contact our ADA information line
at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TDD)

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                                   - 2 -

    I hope this information will be useful to you in responding
to your constituent.

                                      Sincerely,



                                    James P. Turner
                           Acting Assistant Attorney General
                                 Civil Rights Division

Enclosures

































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