WASHINGTON - The Bush administration said Thursday it has forced government agencies and businesses into complying with federal disability laws in more than 2,000 cases over the past five years, mostly without imposing penalties.

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The vast majority of the complaints — an estimated 1,800 — were resolved amicably through mediation, the Justice Department said. Additionally, the department's civil rights division settled 151 cases against state and local governments to bring them into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Just under 300 cases were resolved over the past year. Nearly 50 million people in the United States have a disability, according to the Census Bureau.

Using the stick of the law and the carrot of technical assistance, "we have helped provide people with disabilities greater access to health care, public facilities, education, employment and other settings in communities across America," Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in a statement.

Gonzales was expected to highlight the report's findings Thursday in Minneapolis in one of his last public speeches outside Washington before the Nov. 7 elections.

The report notes a few cases in which offenders faced penalties.

In one, movie theater chain AMC Entertainment was forced to pay $100,000 in damages to customers whom courts found were discriminated against because of access problems.

All of the cases were pursued under the administration's "New Freedom Initiative," announced in February 2001 to give disabled people more access to public areas. In particular, the Justice Department has focused on improving access to theaters, sport venues, hotels and other destinations where large numbers of people gather, officials said.

The department also is leaning on cities and counties to make sure public spaces and services are accessible to disabled people, in part by building curb cuts into sidewalks for wheelchairs, allowing guide dogs for the blind in shelters, and installing test telephone systems for deaf people making 911 calls.

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