Justice Dept. Proposes Changes in Disabilities Act Rules

摘要

After nearly three years of work, the Justice Dept. has proposed a major revision of building-accessibility standards under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Architects hope the proposed framework, published on June 17, will provide greater clarity, but business interests worry it could create more confusion. The proposed standards apply to private and public facilities and offer sweeping guidance on accessibility at hotels, restaurants, stadiums, theaters and stores. Unlike existing requirements, the proposal has detailed technical guidance, such as viewing angles for wheelchair seating areas. Mark Lichter, Paralyzed Veterans of America senior associate director of architecture, says such detail is encouraging. "It used to be that seating had to be equitable, and we had to fight often to get wheelchair spaces into large assembly areas," he says. "Now they have specific guidelines and technical criteria broken down into quartiles for where seating has to be."