Access Board News

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. The U.S. Department of Labor themed this year’s NDEAM observance as “Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next,” and U.S. Access Board staff will provide presentations and trainings to promote accessibility and educate the public, organizations, and . . .

The 10th annual Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) will be held both virtually and in-person from November 7 – 9, 2023 at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) L. William Seidman Center. Co-hosted by the U.S. Access Board, General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Veterans Affairs, and FDIC, the forum is themed “Beyond Compliance: Building a Culture of Digital Accessibility” and will include workshops, presentations, breakout sessions, and . . .

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the U.S. Access Board, which will be open to the public and take place virtually on October 25 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees and the Executive Director, federal agency updates, and a guest presentation by Dr. Bonnielin Swenor, Director of . . .

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, programs receiving federal financial assistance, federal employment, and the employment practices of federal contractors. It was a milestone for individuals with disabilities across the nation, and it serves as the foundation for many other disability-related legislation. Section 502 of the law also created the U.S. Access Board . . .

With deep sorrow, the U.S. Access Board announces the passing of former Board Member John (Jack) H. Catlin, FAIA. As one of the founders of LCM Architects, Catlin was a leader in advocating for equal rights for people with disabilities and promoting accessible architecture, inclusive design, accessibility regulations, and public awareness of accessibility. In 1994, Catlin was appointed to the Board by President Bill Clinton, and he was the first architect elected to . . .

2023 marks 50 years of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a foundational law for ensuring people with disabilities have access to programs and activities that are funded by federal agencies and to federal employment. On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” which includes a provision to amend the Rehabilitation Act with Section 510 that requires the U.S. Access Board to create standards to ensure . . . .

50 years ago, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was signed into law to require access to programs and activities that are funded by federal agencies and to federal employment. Section 502 of the law created the U.S. Access Board (originally named the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board) to ensure access to . . .

The U.S. Access Board continues to provide resources and training on the recently published final rule on public right-of-way accessibility guidelines by releasing five new videos on the Board’s YouTube Channel. These videos supplement the Board’s free technical assistance on the guidelines via . . .

In 2011, the U.S. Access Board published proposed accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way and revised them in 2013 to include shared use paths. After reviewing hundreds of public comments, the Board issued the final rule on accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way on August 8, 2023. Some of the notable changes to the final rule from the versions proposed are . . .

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation hosted the webinar “Designing for Accessible EV Charging Stations,” and the recording is publicly available. The webinar included a presentation by U.S. Access Board Transportation Systems Engineer Juliet Shoultz who discussed . . .