ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA Standards for Accessible Design)
Enacted in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act charges the U.S. Access Board with developing accessibility guidelines (ADAAG) that serve as the basis for legally enforceable standards issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. The current 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, adopted September 15, 2010, replaced the original 1991 standards and became mandatory for new construction and alterations on March 15, 2012. The standards specify what is required for a building or facility to be physically accessible to people with disabilities, covering elements such as accessible routes, entrances, ramps, restrooms, parking, and reach ranges. They apply to state and local government facilities (Title II) and places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (Title III), and also govern barrier removal in existing buildings where readily achievable.
Key features
- 2010 ADA Standards adopted by DOJ; mandatory since March 15, 2012
- Technical and scoping requirements for accessible routes, entrances, ramps, and restrooms
- Applies to new construction, alterations, and readily achievable barrier removal
- Covers Title II (government) and Title III (public accommodations) facilities
- Guidelines developed by the U.S. Access Board (ADAAG)