Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) and their legal partners Disability Rights Advocates, Fox & Robertson, and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho, on behalf of pedestrians with mobility disabilities, have reached a partial agreement with the City of Baltimore to make sidewalks and curb ramps more accessible for people with mobility disabilities. This is part of the class-action lawsuit Goodlaxson, et al. v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore (Case No. 1:21-cv-01454-JKB).
In 2021, DRM and their legal partners filed the lawsuit on behalf of several individuals and organizations, including Susan Goodlaxson, Janice Jackson, Keyonna Mayo, and the IMAGE Center of Maryland. They argued that Baltimore City failed to follow federal disability laws because many of its sidewalks and curb ramps were not built or maintained to be accessible, making it harder for people with disabilities to safely travel around the city and take part in community life.
Baltimore City’s own data shows the issue is widespread. A 2019 review found that only about 1.3% of surveyed curb ramps met ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. Many sidewalks were also damaged or too narrow for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, forcing people with disabilities to use the street alongside traffic, which is dangerous.
This lawsuit aimed to help everyone with mobility disabilities who has had difficulty using Baltimore’s sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian pathways because they were too steep, narrow, or damaged. The agreement, a partial consent decree, is a step toward fixing these problems. Beginning in the third year of the agreement, the parties will work on a long-term plan to make all sidewalks and ramps accessible.
