Access Board News

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 . . .

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that aims to improve web and mobile applications (apps) access for people with disabilities and clarify how public entities, primarily state and local governments, can meet their existing ADA obligations as many of their activities shift online. The public can submit comments through October 3, 2023. . . .

On August 12, 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) into law at his ranch in Stonewall, Texas, and remarked the next day “it is humane legislation—which had the unanimous support of both Houses of Congress. I am pleased and proud to sign it into law.” Tomorrow marks the 55th anniversary of the ABA, one of the earliest measures by Congress to address access to the built environment by requiring . . .

With deep sorrow, the U.S. Access Board announces the passing of former Executive Director Larry Roffee. He was appointed Executive Director of the Board in November 1988 and held the position for 20 years before retiring from federal service in August 2008. Mr. Roffee served in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970 and was wounded in action in May 1970. On August 9, 2023, Roffee passed peacefully in Billings, Montana while . . .

President Joe Biden has appointed Olivia Mae M. Asuncion, AIA, as a Public Member to the U.S. Access Board. Asuncion succeeds Board Public Member Karen Braitmayer, who had been appointed by President Barack Obama and served as Board Chair and Vice-Chair in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Asuncion brings a breadth of knowledge in the architecture field and . . .

Pedestrians with disabilities throughout the United States continue to face major challenges in travel because many sidewalks, crosswalks, and other pedestrian facilities are inaccessible. Today, the U.S. Access Board addressed this inequity by issuing a final rule on accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way. These guidelines . . .

The U.S. Access Board has extended its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for 30 days. The NPRM addresses one provision on the low transfer surface height for certain types of MDE used by patients in a supine, prone, side-lying, or seated position. Public comments for the NPRM are due by August 31, 2023. The MDE Accessibility Standards require . . .