Architectural Barriers Act of 1968: Difference between revisions

(2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)

Line 4:

The ABA requires that facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with funds supplied by the [[United States Federal Government]] be accessible to the public.<ref name=About>[http://www.access-board.gov/about/aboutABA/brochure.htm About the Architectural Barriers Act and Other Disability Rights Laws] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712032100/http://www.access-board.gov/about/aboutABA/brochure.htm |date=July 12, 2007 }}</ref> For example, it mandates provision of disabled-access toilet facilities in such buildings.<ref name="Anthony">{{cite journal |last=Anthony |first=Kathryn H. and |author2=Meghan Dufresne |year=2007|title=Potty Parity in Perspective: Gender and Family Issues in Planning and Designing Public Restrooms |journal=Journal of Planning Literature |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=267–294 |doi=10.1177/0885412206295846 |hdl=2142/11713 |s2cid=55087156 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The ABA marks one of the first efforts to ensure that certain federally funded buildings and facilities are designed and constructed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Facilities that predate the law generally are not covered, but alterations or leases undertaken after the law took effect can trigger coverage.

Uniform standards for the design, construction and alteration of buildings so that persons with disabilities will have ready access to and use of them. These [http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/ufas.htm#ABA Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712032218/http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/ufas.htm#ABA |date=2007-07-12 }} (UFAS) are developed and maintained by an Access Board and serve as the basis for the standards used to enforce the law. The Board enforces the ABA by investigating complaints concerning particular facilities. Four Federal agencies are responsible for the setting the standards: the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], the [[Department of Housing and Urban Development]], the [[General Services Administration]], and the [[U.S. Postal Service]]. These federal agencies are responsible for ensuring compliance with UFAS when funding the design, construction, alteration, or leasing of facilities. Some departments have, as a matter of policy, also required compliance with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilities Act]] accessibility guidelines (which otherwise do not apply to the Federal sector) in addition to UFAS.<ref>[http://www.access-board.gov/about/laws/ABA.htm The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968:Introduction] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714124626/http://www.access-board.gov/about/laws/ABA.htm |date=July 14, 2007 }}</ref>

Uniform standards for the design, construction and alteration of buildings