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Zoological Park and at our storage facilities on North Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. and in Silver Hill, Maryland. The Institution works closely with Melwood Training Center of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and employs many of their mentally retarded persons as custodial workers.

Program Accessibility

Program accessibility for disabled persons is overseen by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). The OEO has responsibility for implementing regulations, monitoring the Institution's progress, and processing complaints brought under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Each major bureau within the Institution is responsible for making programs and activities accessible to visitors.

OEO has developed a revised Office Memorandum which includes not only program accessibility policy but also specific guidelines for implementation to assist a broad range of museum and program staff in making programs, publicity, and exhibitions more accessible to our disabled visitors. That Office Memorandum was undergoing final clearance at the end of fiscal year 1985.

Specific efforts to improve accessibility were made by several organization units. Interpreters continue to be provided for hearing-impaired visitors for specific events and upon request for other events and programs. Sign language classes for

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