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A federal judge has issued a significant ruling against Six Flags for failing to provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, highlighting ongoing issues with the park operator’s accessibility practices.
Six Flags Fails Deaf Guest
Melvin Patterson, a deaf guest, visited Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, with gold-plus tickets. Despite repeated requests for an ASL interpreter, he was met with unresponsive emails and contradictory instructions over a three-month period.
Credit: Six Flags
Frustrated, Patterson filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
“Defendants blame Patterson for his difficulties,” U.S. District Court Chief Judge Kimberly Mueller said (via Courthouse News Service). “They argue he did not provide Six Flags Discovery Kingdom with seven days’ notice before requesting an ASL interpreter. Defendants also argue that Patterson did not call the right phone number.”
Six Flags – which recently claimed that its evaluating its current hefty theme park portfolio since merging with Cedar Fair earlier this year – argued that its seven-day notice policy justified denying Patterson’s request, claiming he failed to follow proper procedures. However, Mueller dismissed this defense, asserting that corporate policies cannot supersede federal accessibility laws.
Credit: Six Flags
Mueller added: “In sum, over the course of three months, defendants ignored Patterson’s emails, directed Patterson to three different policies, gave him contradictory instructions, and never offered to provide an interpreter or other assistive device for upcoming visits to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.”
Court Findings and Damages Awarded
The court awarded Patterson $18,209.88 in actual damages and $36,000 in statutory damages, bringing the total to over $54,000. Although the court stopped short of ruling that the denial was intentional, it noted systemic shortcomings.
Patterson’s requests were never escalated to the company’s designated ADA compliance supervisor, and employees lacked adequate training, relying solely on written guides rather than practical solutions.
Credit: Six Flags
Judge Mueller criticized Six Flags’ handling of the situation, stating that the company ignored emails, directed Patterson to conflicting policies, and failed to provide any interpreter or assistive device for his visits.
Wider Implications for Accessibility
The ruling empowers Patterson to play a role in shaping Six Flags’ future accessibility practices. Judge Mueller directed him to draft a proposed injunction requiring the company to improve accessibility measures, including providing ASL interpreters, conducting regular ADA compliance audits, and implementing more effective staff training on disability accommodations.
In general, the case sheds light on broader concerns about Six Flags’ “Attraction Access Program,” which has been criticized for creating unnecessary hurdles for guests with disabilities. The program requires medical documentation to be shared with a third-party organization, raising questions about its inclusivity.
Credit: Six Flags
Patterson’s attorney, Andrew Rozynski, commended the ruling, stating that it underscores the importance of the ADA in ensuring equal access and inclusion for all individuals.
Do you think Six Flags is doing enough to address accessibility concerns?
