Access Board News

On December 15, 2021, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of new sloped walkways for accessible entry on the National Mall side of the building. On behalf of the U.S. Access Board, Training Coordinator Bill Botten . . .

People with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing primary and preventative healthcare. It is vital for medical care facilities and equipment, such as exam rooms and tables, diagnostic instruments and machines, and patient bedrooms and bathrooms, to be fully accessible to people with disabilities. The U.S. Access Board will host a virtual public event on . . .

Gretchen Jacobs, the U.S. Access Board’s General Counsel, plans to retire at the end of this year. As General Counsel, she guided the Board’s legal affairs and led enforcement efforts under the Architectural Barriers Act. Jacobs was also instrumental in . . .

The U.S. Access Board investigated 38 cases under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968 that were resolved through corrective action in FY 2021. The ABA requires access to buildings or facilities that were designed, built, or altered with . . .

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Access Board will hold a virtual public meeting on December 16 to collect information on wheelchairs that are specifically designed for use on aircraft during flights. The agencies will use this information to . . .

The U.S. Access Board seeks a Public Affairs Specialist (GS 12-13) to serve in its Office of the Executive Director. Current or former federal employees who qualify as . . .

The U.S. Access Board hosted the virtual public event “Designing for Inclusion: Architectural Trends and Social Justice” last week on November 10. Board Member Karen Braitmayer reviewed current trends in architectural design for toilet rooms, lavatories, . . .

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), U.S. Access Board staff presented at conferences, forums, and events to advance accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. Board staff presented on various topics, such as the President’s Executive Orders, emerging technology and trends, information and communication technology resources, and the guidelines and standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Architectural Barriers Act of 1973 (ABA), and . . .

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requests public comments on the Draft of Promoting Access to Voting: Recommendations for Addressing Barriers to Private and Independent Voting for People with Disabilities. Under Executive Order 14019 on Promoting Access to Voting, NIST is . . .

The U.S. Access Board has released technical bulletins on accessibility to lavatories and sinks, washing machines and clothes dryers, and saunas and steam rooms. This material addresses specifications for clear floor space, knee and toe space, forward and side reach, operable parts, height, turning space, benches, and doors in the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards. Each bulletin clarifies common sources of confusion, answers frequently asked questions, and offers recommendations for best practice. Examples of compliant lavatories, sinks, washing machines, clothes dryers, saunas, and steam rooms are . . .