U.S. Access Board Updates

Questions and Answers

ADA In Focus Virginia

May 10th, 2016

Intro and Updates

2

• Overview of Access Board

• Rulemaking in Development

• Recently Complete Rules

• Technical Assistance

Overview of

Access Board

3

Overview of the Access Board

• 25 members

–13 public members appointed by

the President for four year terms

–12 Federal members from

various agencies

• Board meets every other month

• Budget: $7.548 million (FY 2015)

• Staff of 28 people4

Access Board Programs

• Guidelines and standards development:

– Architectural Barriers Act (1968)

– Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

– Telecommunications Act (1996)

– Rehabilitation Act Amendments (1998)

– Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

(2010)

• Technical assistance and training

• Research

• ABA enforcement5

Technical Assistance

• Publications and guides

• Online tutorials

• Technical assistance via phone, email, and fax

6

Training

• In-person sessions on all

guidelines and standards tailored

to each audience

• Monthly webinars

addressing specific

topics

7

Research

Supports development of guidelines and guidance materials

8

ABA Enforcement

• Complaint process

• On-line form

• About 75 cases opened

each year

• Applies to facilities designed, built, altered

or leased with Federal funds

– Federal buildings

– Non-Federal buildings

9

Rulemaking in Development

1. Passenger Vessels

2. Public Rights-of-Way

3. Transportation Vehicles

4. Information and Communications

Technology

5. Medical Diagnostic Equipment

6. Shared Use Paths10

Public Rights-of-Way

New guidelines will cover:

• Sidewalks

• Crossings

• Curb ramps and

detectable warnings

• Pedestrian signals

• On-street parking

• Roundabouts

• Next step – Final Rule

11

Information and

Communications Technology

Joint update of:

• Section 508 standards for electronic and information technology (procured by Federal agencies)

• Section 255 guidelines for telecommunications products

• Next step – Proposed Rule

12

“ICT”- Information and

Communications Technology

13

Medical Diagnostic Equipment

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

gave the Board authority to set standards

for medical diagnostic equipment

• Covers examination tables,

examination chairs, weight

scales, mammography

equipment, x-ray machines

• Next step – Final Rule

14

Recently Completed Rules

1. Outdoor Developed

Areas

2. Emergency

Transportable Housing

15

Outdoor Developed Areas

ABA Standards covering:

• Picnic and

camping areas

• Trails

• Beach access

routes

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Emergency

Transportable Housing

• Housing trailers provided

by government in

disasters and

emergencies

17

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Guidance on Prescription Drug

Container Labels

authorized by the “Food and

Drug Administration Safety

and Innovation Act“

best practice - awareness

campaign by National

Council on Disability

Prescription Drug Labels

• Guidance on making

prescription drug container

labels accessible to people

who are blind, have low

vision, or who are elderly

• Working Group on

Accessible Prescription Drug

Container Labels

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Technical Assistance

Online Guides:

Chapter 1 – Application

Chapter 2 – Scoping

Chapter 3 - Building

Blocks

Chapter 4 - Accessible

Route20

• ADA and

ABA

• Animations

• PDF

Downloads

21

Guides on the ADA and ABA

Standards

Animations : maneuvering, entrances & doors,

toilet & bathing facilities, and protruding objects

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Educate About Accessibility

• Website (www.access-board.gov)

• News subscriptions

• Sign-up for Access Currents

newsletter

• .

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Question and

Answer Session

U.S. Access Board

(800) 872-2253 (voice)

(800) 993-2822 (TTY)

E-mail: ta@access-

board.gov

www.access-board.gov