U.S. Access Board

Budget: $7 million (FY 2013)

Staff: 29

• Office of Administrative Services

• General Counsel’s Office

• Technical & Information 

Services
Overview of the Access Board

• 25 members

• 13 public members appointed by the 

President for four year terms

• 12 Federal members from various Federal 

agencies

• Board meets every other month in 

Washington, DC and has one out-of-town 

event
Access Board Programs

• Guidelines and standards development

• Architectural Barriers Act (1968)

• Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

• Telecommunications Act (1996)

• Rehabilitation Act Amendments (1998)

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010)

• Technical assistance and training

• Research

• ABA enforcement
Completed Rulemakings

• ADA Accessibility Guidelines (1991)

Supplements: 

• state and government facilities (1998)

• children’s environments (1998)

• play areas (2000) and recreation facilities (2002)

• Transportation Vehicles (1991)

• Telecommunications Access (1998)

• Electronic & Information Technology (2000)

• Updated ADA-ABA Guidelines (2004)

• Outdoor Developed Areas (2013)
Rulemaking in Development

1. Passenger Vessels

2. Public Rights-of-Way and Shared Use Paths

3. Transportation Vehicles

4. Information and Communications Technology

5. Self-Service Transaction Machines

6. Emergency Transportable Housing

7. Medical Diagnostic Equipment

8. Classroom Acoustics
Rulemaking Authority

• New construction and alterations

• Under the ADA and ABA, our guidelines 

are not enforceable until adopted by a 

standard setting agency
Rulemaking Authority

• Under the ADA and ABA, the Board’s 

authority only extends to the fixed items 

and equipment of a facility (i.e., items and 

equipment fixed to the facility through 

bolts, plumbing, or other structural 

elements)

• Other agencies have authority over nonfixed or free-standing equipment
Required Rulemaking Process

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

• Published in Federal Register

• Public comment period – minimum 60 days by 

Executive Order

• Final Rule 

• Published in Federal Register
Required Rulemaking Process

• Regulatory assessments required at 

proposed and final rule stages

• Submit to Office of Management and Budget 

for review

• 90 day review process
Our Rulemaking Process 

Enhancements

• Extensive public input and involvement

• Information meetings

• Lengthy comment periods

• Public hearings

• Based on consensus where possible

• Advisory committees

• Regulatory negotiation committees
Advisory Committees

• 14 committees since 1993 representing 

over 345 organizations
Board Member’s Role

• Board member liaison – Chris Hart

• Serves as the Board liaison to the committee

• Does not take an official position on behalf of the 

Board but reports back to the full Board 

regarding committee activities and to apprise the 

committee of any issues the Board may have
Duties of the Designated 

Federal Official (DFO)

• Approve the agenda

• Attend the meeting 

• Assure that accurate records are kept

• Send agenda and related information to 

members before the meeting

• Make logistical arrangements

• Prepare Federal Register notices

• Support the Chair during the meeting
Thank you in advance 

for your work