Eastside News

Changes coming to Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery to make it more accessible

Changes are coming to the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville to make it more accessible.

The planned improvements to its public spaces are in response to an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint.

A woman who uses a wheelchair filed the complaint during a summer concert at the winery.

The winery will pay her $500 to settle the claims.

“I commend Chateau Ste. Michelle for recognizing the need to correct barriers to equal access in its facilities, so that all those who want to visit the winery or enjoy a concert can do so,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  “Equal access is a bedrock of our society and seemingly simple things like heavy doors, loose carpets, or table heights can significantly limit access for people using mobility devices.”

Under the agreement, some of the improvements include: multiple changes to bathrooms at the winery to make them accessible, improvements to table and threshold heights in the tasting room, securing loose rugs which can impede assistive devices and pose a tripping hazard, increasing the width of aisles and of accessible seating areas in the amphitheater, increasing the number of accessible parking spaces and improving the slope and paths from the parking spaces to the amphitheater.

The winery has agreed to improve accessibility by June.

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