|  | **A        Guide to the ADA Accessibility        Guidelines for PlayAreas****U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers      Compliance Board        May 2001**
*The products shown in this guide are         only intended to serve as examples to illustrate the accessibility         guidelines, and are not intended as endorsements of the products. Other         products may be available. The Access Board does not evaluate or certify         products for compliance with the accessibility guidelines. Users are         advised to obtain and review product specifications for compliance with         the accessibility guidelines.*

**INTRODUCTION**      The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of      disability. The ADA requires that newly constructed and altered state and local government facilities, places of public      accommodation, and commercial facilities be readily accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities. Recreational      facilities, including play areas, are among the facilities required to comply with the ADA. 

      The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board - often referred to as the "Access Board" - has developed      accessibility guidelines for newly constructed and altered play areas. The play area guidelines are a supplement to the Americans      with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). Once these guidelines are adopted as enforceable standards by the      Department of Justice, all newly constructed and altered play areas covered by the ADA will be required to comply.       This guide is designed to assist in using the play area accessibility guidelines and is divided into the following sections:
- **Summary** 
- Defined Terms
- **Where Do the Play Area Guidelines Apply?**
- **What is a Play Component?**
- **How Many Play Components Must Be on an Accessible Route?**
- **What Are the Requirements for Accessible Routes?**
- **What Other Accessibility Requirements Apply to Play Components?**
- **Soft Contained Play Structures**

**Further Information**      Copies of the play area accessibility guidelines and further technical assistance can be obtained from the U.S. Access Board, 1331      F Street,NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111; 800-872-2253,800-993-2822 (TTY), **pubs@access-board.gov**. Hard copies or alternate      formats of this document are also available upon request.**Acknowledgments**The Access Board would like to thank the following manufacturers for theirgenerous assistance: Bob Leathers, Columbia Cascade, GameTime, KOMPAN, LandscapeStructures, Little Tikes, Miracle, Olympic Recreation, Playworld Systems, andRecreation Creations.   This manual was developed in part through acontract with KOMPAN, Inc., 50 Commercial Drive, Johnson City, New York 13790.

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