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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild Jr.: Reason to believe ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Reason to believe ... Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway ... Ticket Availabity ... OUR VIEW Our View: Above and beyond Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Despite allegations to the contrary from a longtime antagonist, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival appears to be doing more than is required to make its theaters more easily accessible to the disabled under federal law. Ashland resident Philip Lang is pursuing a lawsuit against the festival and the city of Ashland, which owns the property the festival sits on, alleging the design of the central courtyard known as "the bricks" violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The brick surface slopes steeply, making it difficult to navigate for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. In November, after the summer season closes, workers will tear up and re-contour the bricks and install an elevator in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, among other changes. This does not satisfy Lang, who says it isn't enough. Lang's attorney, Tom Dimitre, wrote in a guest opinion last week that access will be "just as difficult" after the changes. In fact, access will be much improved and, as festival officials noted in their response to Dimitre, OSF's remodeling greatly exceeds the ADA's "readily achievable" standard for existing buildings. According to the federal law, "readily achievable" means "easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense." The festival is spending nearly $4 million on the work, which is extensive and can be done only between November and January. While the lawsuit may have helped prompt OSF to act, the festival is now going above and beyond the minimum in making changes. The lawsuit should be dropped.   DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501