New Accessibility Guidelines Coming

New ADA and ABA Guidelines Approved, Building Safety Journal, March-April 2004, reports on the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board's January approval of new technical guidelines for complying with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the article, the new guidelines will replace the current ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) as well as the guidelines for accessibility under the requirements of the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). The result will be a more consistant and detailed set of provisions for both sets of regulations, as well as closer coordination with some of the accessibility requirements of the International Building Code.

The new guidelines next proceed to the Office of Management and Budget for review, approval, and publication as Federal regulations. After publication, the various Federal Agencies that enforce ADA and ABA requirements, such as the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, and others must update their own standards for the new guidelines to come into effect.

Recap
The ADA Accessibility Guidelines cover the construction and alteration of private sector places of public accommodation and commercial facilities, and state and local government public sector facilities (but not Federal facilities). The accessibility guidelines issued under the ABA primarily address facilities built or funded in the Federal sector.

More Information:
Iano's Backfill Finding Your Way Through Accessibility Regulations
Federal Access Board ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines Homepage