AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) [GISTST]
RS-S12-C1
ROADS SCHOLAR 1
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Title II of the act focuses on public accommodations and states that “barriers to access” are considered discrimination. A curb that prohibits a wheelchair from accessing a sidewalk, for example, is a barrier to access and is therefore discrimination. Also under the ADA, all new construction must meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, which are part of the Code of Federal Regulations.
While the spirit of the ADA is clear, the application of its specific requirements to local roadway maintenance and operations can be complex. What constitutes new construction within the ADA Accessibility Guidelines? Certainly, the placement of sidewalk in a new residential development is considered new construction, but what about the replacement of a deteriorated segment of sidewalk or the repaving of a local road? This course helps to answer questions like these, as well as provides specifics about planning, design, construction, and materials useful to municipal public works employees. Intended audience: All public works employees involved with ADA transportation facilities, including municipal decision makers such as managers, foremen, codes inspectors, and zoning officers, and road crew members with ADA facility responsibilities. Engineers are welcome to attend, but the focus is on the non-engineer.