US DOJ Issues Revised ADA Regulations for Title II and III

Rolling Rains Report
By Scott Rains on August 15, 2010 5:36 AM

President Obama announced the U.S. Department of Justice has issued final regulations revising Title II and III, including the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. These regulations will be published in the Federal Register. (Remarks by the President: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-20th-anniversary-americans-with-disabilities-act)

SUMMARY OF CHANGES:

Adoption of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The Department has adopted revised ADA design standards that include the relevant chapters of the Access Board's 2004 ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines as modified by specific provisions of this rule. To minimize compliance burdens on entities subject to more than one legal standard, these design standards have been harmonized with the Federal standards implementing the Architectural Barriers Act and with the private sector model codes that are adopted by most States.


Effective Date. The rule will become effective six months after publication in the Federal Register. Eighteen months after publication, compliance with the 2010 Standards will be required for new construction and alterations. In the period between the effective date and the compliance date, covered entities may choose between the 1991 Standards and the 2010 Standards. Covered entities that should have complied with the 1991 Standards during any new construction or alteration of facilities or elements, but have not done so by 18 months after the date of publication of the final rule, must comply with the 2010 Standards.

Full Report: http://www.rollingrains.com/2010/08/us-doj-issues-revised-ada-regulations-for-title-ii-and-iii.html