U N I T E D S T A T E S A C C E S S B O A R D

 

 

 

2007 Annual Report

 January 2008

 A FEDERAL AGENCY COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBLE DESIGN
U N I T E D S T A T E S A C C E S S B O A R D 

Chair 

TRICIA MASON

Arlington, Virginia 

Public Members Federal Members 

DOUGLAS ANDERSON

Wheaton, Illinois 

JOHN GUNNAR BOX

Corona, California 

JOSEPH A. CIRILLO, R.A. 

Middletown, Rhode Island 

RONALD J. GARDNER

Bountiful, Utah 

JAMES R. HARDING II, ED.D. 

Tallahassee, Florida 

NEIL K. MELICK, CBO 

West Palm Beach, Florida 

PHILIP G. PEARCE

College Station, Texas 

DANIEL O. RIOS, P.E.

McAllen, Texas 

ELIZABETH A. STEWART

Winter Haven, Florida 

GARY LEONARD TALBOT

Foxboro, Massachusetts 

JOHN O. WOODS, JR., P.E.

Alexandria, Virginia 

JOHN C. WYVILL

Lincoln, Nebraska 

OTTO J. WOLFF

Department of Commerce 

MICHAEL L. DOMINGUEZ

Department of Defense 

TRACY JUSTESEN

Department of Education 

DAVID L. BIBB 

General Services Administration 

DANIEL MERON

Department of Health and Human Services 

KIM KENDRICK

Department of Housing and Urban Development 

JAMES E. CASON

Department of Interior 

RENA J. COMISAC

Department of Justice 

KAREN M. CZARNECKI

Department of Labor 

TYLER D. DUVALL

Department of Transportation 

[VACANT] 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

TOM SAMRA

United States Postal Service 

1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000 ■ Washington, DC 20004-1111 ■ www.access-board.gov 

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F Y 2 0 0 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T 

The U.S. Access Board is a leading resource on design that is accessible to people with 

disabilities. Through the development of guidelines and standards, the Board establishes what 

constitutes accessibility in the realms of architecture, transportation, and communication and 

information technologies. Its design specifications play a critical role in fulfilling the promises of 

the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other Federal laws guaranteeing the rights of 

people with disabilities. The Board promotes accessible design through public outreach, 

technical assistance, training, published guidance, and research. In addition, it ensures access 

to facilities funded by the Federal government. 

GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS

Establishing design criteria and keeping them up to date constitute key Board activities. The 

Board maintains guidelines and standards for the built environment, vehicles, information 

technology, and telecommunications equipment under several different laws. In any given year, 

the Board advances work on a varied agenda of rulemaking initiatives. Some involve updates 

of existing criteria to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of people with disabilities. 

Others break new ground by detailing access in areas not specifically addressed by a guideline 

or standard. Having previously completed a comprehensive update of its facility guidelines, the 

Board proceeded to review its specifications for electronic and information technology, 

telecommunication products, and transportation vehicles in 2007. The Board also continued 

work on new guidelines for outdoor environments, public rights-of-way, and passenger vessels, 

and examined issues concerning emergency housing. 

Board members hear testimony at one of three public

hearings on the proposed guidelines. 

Outdoor Developed Areas 

Achieving accessibility in outdoor environments has long 

been a source of confusion due to challenges and 

constraints posed by terrain, the degree of development, 

construction practices and materials, and other factors. 

In 2007, the Board unveiled new guidelines for Federal 

parks and recreation areas and made them available for 

public comment. The guidelines provide detailed 

guidance on trails, beaches, and picnic and camping 

areas on sites managed by the Federal government. 

To promote public input, the Board held hearings on the proposal in Denver, Washington, D.C., 

and Indianapolis. The Board received over 120 comments during a four-month comment 

period, including testimony provided at the hearings. Detailed feedback was submitted by 

professional and trade associations, individuals with disabilities, advocacy groups, organizations 

devoted to outdoor recreation, trail and park operators, Federal agencies, parks and recreation 

departments, and others. The Board will finalize the guidelines based on this feedback and 

plans to follow up this effort with similar guidelines for non-Federal sites. 

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Information Technology and Telecommunications 

The Board conducted a review of its accessibility criteria for electronic and information 

technology and telecommunications products through an advisory committee it chartered. 

Comprised of a cross-section of stakeholders, the Telecommunications and Electronic and 

Information Technology Advisory Committee includes representatives from industry, disability 

groups, standard-setting bodies in the U.S. and abroad, government agencies, and others. The 

Committee met regularly throughout the year to craft recommendations on how the Board’s 

standards for electronic and information technologies should be updated. Issued under section 

508 of the Rehabilitation Act, these standards apply to technologies procured by the Federal 

government. The Committee’s report also will address updates to Board guidelines for 

telecommunications products covered by section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. 

Committee members met regularly throughout the

year and continued deliberations by teleconference. 

The Committee’s recommendations will address coverage 

of products and technologies, including new or convergent 

types, solutions to identified access barriers, the content of 

new or revised specifications and criteria, and their 

harmonization with comparable international efforts in this 

area. The Committee is slated to submit its report to the 

Board in April 2008. The Board will follow-up with 

proposed revisions to the standards and guidelines based 

on the committee’s recommendations. 

Transportation Vehicles 

The Board also initiated a review of its ADA guidelines for transportation vehicles which cover 

access to buses, vans, rail cars, and other modes of public transportation. In laying the 

groundwork for this update, the Board held an industry roundtable to identify key issues to 

address. Discussion focused on trends and innovations in the design of buses and boarding 

devices and the growing diversity of mobility aids now on the market. Based on this input, the 

Board prepared updates to specifications for buses and vans and released a draft for public 

comment. The Board also posed questions to the public on existing specifications, such as 

minimum space requirements for wheelchairs. Vehicle manufacturers, transit operators, trade 

associations, consumers, and disability groups, among others provided feedback to the Board. 

By the close of the comment period, the Board received approximately 80 comments. The 

Board will also update specifications for rail cars and other vehicles covered by the guidelines. 

Passenger Vessels 

Work also continued on new guidelines for passenger vessels last year. These guidelines will 

provide access criteria for different types of vessels, including cruise and gaming ships, ferries, 

and excursion boats. Previously, the Board made two drafts of the guidelines available for public 

comment. Based on the input it received, the Board identified and examined key issues. In 2007, 

the Board organized an advisory committee to explore issues related to accessible alarm systems 

aboard vessels. The Passenger Vessel Emergency Alarms Advisory Committee, which includes 

representatives from disability organizations, the vessel and cruise ship industry, and codes and 

trade groups, will prepare recommendations on specifications for emergency warning systems 

that take into account design considerations unique to various types of vessels. The Committee 

is due to complete it work in 2008. The Board will officially propose a revised version of the 

guidelines that incorporates the Committee’s recommendations.

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Public Rights-of-Way 

Sidewalks, street crossings, and other elements of public rights-of-ways present unique 

challenges to accessibility. The Board is developing new guidelines for public rights-of-way that 

will address various issues, including access for blind pedestrians at street crossings, 

accessible on-street parking, and constraints posed by space limitations and terrain, among 

others. Over the course of the year, the Board made progress on these guidelines, which will 

be released for public comment. In addition, the Board partnered with other entities to conduct 

needed research and collect data, develop supplementary guidance, including a publication of a 

new guide on alterations, and continue outreach. For example, the Board, along with the 

American Traffic Safety Services Association and other agencies, organized an event that 

enabled people with vision impairments to test and evaluate products used for directing 

pedestrians around work zones, including barricades, channelizing devices, "talking" lights, and 

detectable warnings. 

Emergency Transportable Housing 

The Board also organized a new advisory committee that is examining access to housing 

trailers procured by the government for use in natural disasters. Access to such housing proved 

problematic in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and, after verifying and examining the issues 

involved, the Board determined that an advisory committee should be organized to develop 

guidance on the topic. The Board organized the Committee based on applications received in 

response to a published notice. The Committee’s 13 members include representatives from 

disability groups, industry and codes groups, and government agencies. A report from the 

Committee is expected in 2008. 

 

OUTREACH

In developing guidelines and standards, the Board routinely interacts with the public and its 

stakeholders through hearings, information meetings, and other venues. In addition, each year 

the Board holds a town meeting in a different city to hear from individuals on issues of concern 

and to update the public on the work of the Board. These events offer an open dialogue on 

accessible design and typically include presentations and briefings on specific topics. 

The Board held its 2007 town meeting in the Denver area in July. The event provided a forum 

where members of the public could advise the Board on issues of concern. It also included 

panel presentations by invited guests on voting 

equipment and classroom acoustics. Several 

members of the public, including parents of 

children with hearing loss, strongly endorsed the 

efforts to improve classroom acoustics. 

Participants also called attention to other access 

concerns, including ADA standards for residential 

facilities, voting systems and the legibility of paper 

ballots, and access to parking meters. While in the 

Denver area, Board members toured area parks to 

examine trail and campground access and other 

subjects of the guidelines proposed for outdoor 

developed areas. The Board’s visit to Denver included tours of Rocky Mountain 

National Park and the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center. 

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SERVICES AND RESOURCES 

In addition to its development of guidelines and standards, the Board promotes accessible 

design through education, published resources, and one-on-one guidance to the public. These 

services play a critical role in assisting various professionals understand and apply accessibility 

design requirements. The Board also ensures access to federally funded buildings through the 

investigation of complaints. 

FY 2007 by the Numbers 

Over 14,400 technical 

inquiries handled 

78 training sessions held 

and 5,740 people trained 

Over 7,600 copies of Board 

materials mailed out 

More than 3.4 million user 

sessions and 63 million hits 

on Board website 

Training 

On a regular basis, the Board travels across the 

country to provide training on accessible design and its 

guidelines and standards at different events and 

conferences. Most training pertains to design criteria 

for facilities, transportation vehicles, and information 

technology. Training sessions, which are targeted to 

the needs and interests of each audience, attract 

designers and architects, code officials, advocacy 

groups, transportation operators, the information 

technology industry, and other professionals in 

assorted fields. In 2007, the Board conducted 78 

sessions and provided training to over 5,700 people. 

Technical Assistance 

In following accessibility guidelines and standards, users run into questions about how a 

specification can best be met in a certain situation or seek clarification on what a particular 

provision means. Every day the Board provides technical assistance on its accessibility criteria 

and accessible design through its toll-free line as well as by email and fax. Whether it’s a 

question about a construction or alteration project, vehicle design, or information and 

communication technology, people can turn to the Board for answers. This individualized 

guidance improves compliance and helps ensure that access is achieved properly. The Board 

responded to over 14,400 technical inquiries in 2007. 

The Board’s input is routinely sought on specific projects, including high-profile sites and 

landmarks. Last year, Board staff provided feedback on the Pentagon Memorial Project 

commemorating victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, met with representatives of the American 

Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial to be built in Washington, D.C. near Capitol Hill to discuss 

the project’s accessible features, and offered input on schematic designs for a new justice 

center in Denver. 

Resources 

A variety of publications and guidance materials on accessibility is produced and distributed by 

the Board. In addition to copies of Board guidelines and standards, this information includes 

user-friendly companion guides, technical bulletins, manuals, and online courses. New 

materials are developed each year, many of which focus on clarifying recent guidelines or 

providing guidance in areas where guidelines are pending. In 2007, the Board unveiled an 

interactive online course on accessible play areas. It also distributed a new illustrated guide on 

public rights-of-ways that shows how access can be maximized in alteration projects through 

planning, best practices, case studies, and recommended strategies for negotiating constraints. 

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All Board resources are available on its website at 

www.access-board.gov. Website traffic continued 

to grow significantly, and by year’s end the site 

logged over 62.3 million hits and more than over 

3.4 million user sessions. Some Board customers 

prefer ordering copies of materials in print or 

alternate formats. The Board sent out over 7,600 

copies of its publications last year, in addition to 

materials distributed at its training sessions. 

Enforcement 

Facilities built or altered with Federal dollars must 

be accessible under the Architectural Barriers Act 

(ABA) of 1968, the first national law on the books 

guaranteeing access to the built environment. The ABA covers a wide 

range of government buildings, including post offices, social security 

offices, and Federal office buildings. It also applies to non-Federal 

buildings that are federally funded, such as schools, transit stations, 

local courthouses and jails, and public housing. The Board enforces 

the law through the investigation of complaints. The first step in an investigation is to determine 

whether the facility is covered by the ABA and, if so, whether it meets the applicable design 

standards. If a covered facility is not in compliance, the Board will pursue a corrective action 

plan and monitor the case until all necessary work is completed. In 2007, the Board advanced 

177 investigations and closed 43 cases. Barriers were successfully remedied in all cases where 

the law applied, and in some cases voluntarily where it did not. 

An online course on play areas

and a design guide on streets 

and sidewalks are some of the 

new resources available from 

the Board. 

RESEARCH 

The Board sponsors and coordinates research to develop guidance materials, support its 

development of new guidelines and promote accessible design. Each year, the Board initiates a 

variety of projects, often in partnership with other organizations. Most projects focus on the study 

of accessibility in relation to architecture and design, human factors, communication, and 

transportation. During the year, on-going projects advanced research on human measures and 

wheeled mobility aids, surfaces, public rights-of-way, communication access in transportation 

systems, point-of-sales machines, and indoor environmental air quality. New projects initiated in 

2007 are examining trail and play area surfaces, exhibit design, and best practices for state code 

implementation and enforcement. 

A sampling of several projects shows the breadth of certain data collection efforts and the range 

of enlisted expertise that informs the design of projects and the guidance developed. It also 

demonstrates how research findings improve accessibility and lead to real-world results. 

Human Measures and Wheeled Mobility 

The Board has provided significant financial and advisory support to a major multi-year study on 

people who use wheeled mobility aids. Conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research 

Center on Universal Design, this project is collecting human measures on people using various 

types of manual wheelchairs and motorized devices. Space requirements, maneuvering 

parameters, reach ranges, and other measures are being entered into a database that will be 

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instrumental in evaluating existing accessibility criteria 

and design specifications. The Board has contributed to 

this project over the past four years, and provided 

additional funds last year to expand data collection, which 

is due to be completed in 2008. Data from 500 test 

subjects will be compiled. Extensive planning went into 

the design of this project and the development and 

vetting of a standardized measurement protocol, 

including input received through two international 

conferences. It is hoped that subsequent researchers will 

utilize this project’s methodologies and build upon the 

data collected. A researcher measures the reach of a test participant.

Tolerances for Surface Smoothness and Slope 

The Board’s facility guidelines generally recognize conventional industry tolerances for field 

conditions. Many in the design, construction, and codes industry have sought guidance from the 

Board on what tolerances are acceptable for a given specification. A project underway by the 

Board will develop guidance on construction tolerances for surface slope, flatness, and 

smoothness. As part of this project, a workshop was held last spring to identify strategies and 

considerations for developing this guidance. Participants included representatives from various 

trade associations, professional societies, government agencies, and research organizations. 

Discussion focused on available measurement protocols, and presented papers addressed 

design issues, construction considerations, and research findings. Participants identified ways 

to establish and promote appropriate tolerances, measurement protocols, and best practices 

through trade and professional associations. This project, while currently focused on exterior 

routes, will also explore tolerances for other types of construction. 

Outdoor Surfacing 

Another Board project is establishing ways to improve the performance of engineered wood fiber 

as a surfacing material for trails and playgrounds. This multi-year study involves long-term 

testing of treatments for making this wood chip material, a popular choice for outdoor surfaces, 

firmer and more stable for wheelchair traffic. Although 

final test phases are currently underway, the methods and 

materials deemed most effective by this study are being 

used to improve access at various outdoor sites, including 

a complex of open-air performance centers in the 

Washington, D.C. area. Last year, volunteers installed 

stabilized engineered wood fiber to improve the surface of 

routes and wheelchair seating spaces at Wolf Trap 

National Park for the Performing Arts. Final phases of the 

Board’s study, currently underway, involve full-scale field 

assessments at an assortment of playgrounds and trails in 

different sites across the country. Treated engineered wood fiber improves routes and

wheelchair spaces at an outdoor arena at Wolf Trap. 

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