The problem is that the ADA is a civil rights law, not a building code, says Mace. Translating its anti-discrimination provisions into design standards has been arduous. Mace acknowledges that discussion at the conference will be heated, with disability groups and architects pitted against one another on some issues. But many continue to believe that accessible design is ugly, expensive and for a minority that is not important to their clients. What most builders don't realize is that accessible design is better for everyone, not just those with official disabilities.
Mace expects many architects at the conference to push for a national building code.
Pittsburgh architect Robert Dale Lynch says that litigation has made architects readier to implement new design ideas. What we are doing for people with disabilities has tremendous benefits for all of us. Mace founded the Center for Universal Design in 1989. The center has developed a set of universal design principles that can help architects move beyond dependence on standards and codes. The center also offers architects technical assistance and training in universal design and in accessibility issues.