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Board to
Issue Information on Guidelines for Passenger Vessels
In November, the Access Board will release for public review and comment
information, including draft guidelines, on its effort to address access to
passenger vessels under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA
ensures access for people with disabilities to public transportation as well as
to transit services provided by private entities. The standards currently used
to enforce the ADA’s transportation provisions cover access to buses, vans, rail
cars and other vehicle types but do not address passenger vessels. The Board is
developing detailed guidelines for various types of vessels that will be used to
supplement the standards.
Draft Guidelines for Large Vessels
The draft guidelines to be released cover access to large vessels, specifically
those designed to accommodate more that 150 passengers or 49 overnight
passengers. The guidelines are based on a report submitted to the Board by the
Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee. This committee, which the Board had
created to develop recommendations on the guidelines, investigated various
issues concerning access to different types of vessels and included
representation from vessel operators and designers, naval architects, and
disability groups, among others. A wide variety of vessels were taken into
consideration, from those used primarily for transportation, such as ferries, to
those used for recreation or other purposes, such as gaming boats and cruise
ships.
Notice on Access to Smaller Vessels
In addition to the guidelines for large vessels, the Board will publish at the
same time a notice seeking public input on how, and to what extent, small
vessels should be addressed by the guidelines. As currently drafted, the
guidelines focus on classes of large vessels, consistent with the committee’s
recommendations. Smaller vessels, by their size and design, pose unique
challenges to accessibility. Through this notice, the Board will seek comments
on how to cover access to classes of small vessels, such as water taxis and
excursion boats, that carry no more than 150 passengers or 49 overnight
passengers. The notice will outline several possible options developed by the
Board for addressing access to such vessels in view of various design
constraints.
As part of its work developing guidelines, the Board must prepare an analysis of
their potential impact. The Board has developed a plan for its assessment of the
vessel guidelines which will also be made available for public input. This
document will outline the approach and methods to be used to assess the impact
of the guidelines.
The draft guidelines for large vessels, the notice concerning smaller vessels,
and the impact analysis plan will be posted on the Board’s website at www.access-board.gov. This information
will include instructions on submitting comments. The Board plans to hold a
public meeting which will provide an opportunity for public feedback on January
10, 2005, in Washington, D.C. For further information contact the Board at (202)
272-0012 (v), (202) 272-0082 (TTY), or
pvag@access-board.gov (e-mail).
Board
Organizes Advisory Committee on Courthouse Accessibility
The Board has organized an advisory committee to promote access to courthouses
as part of an overall plan for targeted outreach on different aspects or spheres
of accessibility. The Courthouse Access Advisory Committee will explore issues
related to the accessibility of courthouses, particularly courtrooms, including
best practices, design solutions, promotion of accessible features, educational
opportunities, and the gathering of information on existing barriers, practices,
recommendations, and guidelines. This information will supplement design
guidelines the Board previously issued for judicial facilities.
The design of courthouses poses challenges to access due to unique features,
such as courtroom areas that are elevated within confined spaces. The Board has
received many requests for guidance on how access can best be achieved while
meeting traditional design features. The new committee will investigate
compliance issues and explore new and innovative design solutions. While past
Board advisory committees have been tasked with preparing recommendations for
new guidelines or standards, this committee’s work will instead be focused on
developing advisory information and best practices.
The committee’s 31 members include designers and architects, disability groups,
members of the judiciary, court administrators, representatives of the codes
community and standard-setting entities, government agencies, and others with an
interest in the issues to be explored. The members were selected among
applications the Board received in response to a notice published in June.
The committee will hold its first meeting on November 4th and 5th in Washington,
D.C. at the Ronald Reagan Building, Hemisphere A Room. Committee meetings are
open to the public and there will be a period of time reserved both meeting days
for input from members of the public in attendance. For further information on
the committee or its upcoming meeting, contact Elizabeth Stewart at (202)
272-0042 (voice), (202) 272-0082 (TTY), or
stewart@access-board.gov (e-mail).
Courthouse Access Advisory Committee
Accessibility Equipment Manufacturers Association
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
American Institute of Architects
American Bar Association
Arizona State Bar Association
California Administrative Office of the Courts
Conference of State Court Administrators
Cook County (IL) Government
David Calvert, PA
Disabilities Law Project
HDR Architecture, Inc.
Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, Inc.
International Code Council
Michael Graves & Associates
Montana Advocacy Program
National Association for Court Management
National Center for State Courts
National Fire Protection Association
New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Disability
Ninth Circuit for the U.S. Courts
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Phillips Swager Associates
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People
T.L. Shield & Associates
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. General Services Administration
U.S. Judicial Conference, Securities & Facilities Committee
United Spinal Association
Vertical Mobility Division
Western Law Center for Disability Rights
Justice Department Issues
Advance Notice Updating its ADA Standards
On September 30, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued an advance notice
of its intent to update its ADA standards based on new guidelines the Board
issued last July. Under the ADA, design requirements for new or altered
facilities are first established by the Board as a baseline for DOJ’s use in
setting or updating the enforceable standards that must be followed. DOJ’s
standards must be consistent with the Board’s guidelines.
The DOJ notice puts questions to the public on various application issues, such
as how much lead time should be provided before the updated standards take
effect. It also discusses issues concerning existing facilities, which are
subject to requirements in DOJ’s regulations but which are not addressed in the
Board’s guidelines except where altered. In addition, the advance notice
discusses specific issues concerning certain types of facilities and equipment,
miscellaneous matters, such as DOJ’s process for certifying state and local
codes under the ADA, and information for its use in developing a regulatory
impact analysis.
The information sought from the public through this advance notice will be used
by DOJ in proposing a follow-up version that will also be made available for
comment before it is finalized. The notice, which includes instructions on
submitting comment, is posted on DOJ’s website at
http://www.ada.gov/proposal.htm.
The deadline for comment is January 28, 2005. Questions about this notice should
be directed to DOJ at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).
Conference Explores Research
on Emergency Evacuation
The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR), a coordinating body for
Federal agencies involved in disability research, held a conference on emergency
evacuation of people with disabilities on October 13th and 14th in Rockville,
MD. The event provided a forum for discussion and development of recommendations
on improving means of evacuating building occupants unable to use stairs. The
agenda included panel discussions on building and life safety codes, current
practices in emergency management, the experiences of people with disabilities
and first responders, evacuation devices on the market, and the state of
research on mobility equipment and human measures. The moderated discussions
focused on identifying challenges to accessible evacuation and priorities for
further research and study. Breakout group discussions were used to develop
research recommendations for building and life safety code groups, first
responders, manufacturers, and Federal agencies.
Participants included Federal employees involved in emergency preparedness,
people with disabilities, first responders and emergency management personnel,
building and life safety code practitioners and researchers, manufacturers of
evacuation devices, and leaders in research on people with physical disabilities
and mobility devices. Access Board staff assisted in the planning of this
conference and served as moderators for panel discussions on building and life
safety codes, and on evacuation devices and human factors research. A report
from the conference will be issued through the ICDR and made available on its
website at http://www.icdr.us. Conference
recommendations will be presented at ICDR’s annual research planning workshop on
November 8.
Board to Serve on New ICC and
NFPA Committees
The International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection
Administration (NFPA) have established new committees that will explore
accessibility issues relating to building design and life safety. The Board has
agreed to serve on these committees which will provide a forum for input on
access issues and for further coordinating ICC and NFPA codes and standards with
design criteria issued under the ADA.
ICC Code Technology Committee
The ICC has established the Code Technology Committee which will be responsible
for identifying and addressing conflicts among the International Codes and
Standards. The committee’s charter specifies particular areas of study and
investigation, including fire protection, use of elevators in emergencies,
assisted living facilities, and further harmonization of the International
Building Code (IBC) with new guidelines the Board published last July. The
committee will consider code changes that are necessary to enhance the IBC’s
consistency with these guidelines. The committee includes representation from
the Board, the codes community, and other organizations and professions. For
further information on the committee, contact the ICC at (703) 931-4533 or visit
its website at
http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/cc/ctc.html.
NFPA ADA Advisory Committee
NFPA has established a standing advisory group that will report to its president
on matters concerning people with disabilities and the ADA. The ADA Advisory
Committee, which will include a representative from the Access Board, will
identify emerging issues and existing needs among people with disabilities and
will develop recommendations on how NFPA can be responsive to them. It will also
work to help ensure that NFPA’s code and standard development process includes
input on the latest trends and thinking on various accessibility issues that
impact people with disabilities. The committee’s first meeting will be held
November 3, 2004, in San Diego. For further information, call NFPA at (617)
770-3000.
Laurinda Lacey, Long-time
Staffer, Retires
After 32 years of government service, Laurinda Lacey, a long-time member of the
Board’s staff retired in September. Lacey began her career in the Federal
government at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and joined
the Access Board in 1980. During her tenure at the Board, she served as director
of its administrative unit and also managed contracts under the Board’s research
program. Her 24 years of dedicated service to the Board is the longest of any
Board employee.
Access Currents is a free
newsletter issued by the Access Board every other month by mail and e-mail. Send
questions or comments to news@access-board.gov or call (800) 872-2253 ext. 0026
(voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY). Mailing address: 1331 F Street, N.W., Suite
1000; Washington, D.C. 20004-1111.
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