Rulemaking
The Access Board takes on regulatory initiatives to develop accessibility guidelines and standards. Visit the Access Board’s Rulemaking page to learn about the process, history, and active and upcoming rulemaking. The Access Board’s Unified Agenda is also available on Office of Management and Budget’s website.
Initiatives
Air Travel
The inability to use one’s wheelchair on airplanes makes air travel very difficult, if not impossible, for many people with disabilities. Among other challenges, it requires multiple transfers between boarding chairs and aircraft seats, posing injury risks. Visit the Access Board’s Aircraft page to learn more about improving the usability and reliably of onboard wheelchairs on aircraft.
Autonomous Vehicles
Self-driving cars, shuttles, and other vehicles stand to revolutionize transportation and have the potential to dramatically expand transit options for people with disabilities. Their cutting-edge technologies and engineering innovations have the potential to significantly expand transit options for many people, including those with disabilities. It is important that autonomous vehicles (AVs) are designed to be inclusive of everyone. Visit the Access Board’s AV page for more information.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
In partnership with the Department of Transportation, the Access Board issued a technical assistance document that covers existing requirements and new recommendations for making electric vehicle (EV) charging stations accessible. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation also hosted the webinar “Designing for Accessible EV Charging Stations” where Access Board staff presented on the accessibility guidelines and best practices in the technical assistance document. Additionally, as indicated in the Board’s Spring 2023 Unified Agenda, the Board intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking on accessibility guidelines for EV charging stations.
Medical Diagnostic Equipment
The U.S. Access Board has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment regarding the low transfer surface height for certain types of medical diagnostic equipment used by patients. Public comments for the NPRM are due by August 31, 2023. Visit the Board’s May 23, 2023 news release and August 2, 2023 news release for more information.
Self-service Transaction Machines
Self-service transaction machines (SSTMs) and self-service kiosks are now a common feature in places of public accommodation, government offices, and other facilities. They allow customers to conduct an expanding range of transactions and functions independently. However, SSTMs and self-service kiosks have long posed accessibility barriers to people with disabilities, particularly those who are blind or have low vision. Visit the Access Board’s SSTMs page for more information.