American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a part of our Building Design course category. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. It gives protections to individuals with disabilities and guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

This course reviews the 2010 Title II Standards for State and Local Government Facilities, the 2010 Title III Standards for Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities and the 2010 Standards for Titles II and II Facilities: 2004 ADAAG. It will assist architects, engineers, and other design professionals to understand how to comply with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design issued by the Department of Justice.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Search through the technical requirements for accessibility to sites, facilities, buildings, and elements required by individuals with disabilities
• Look up the ADA requirements for new construction and alterations to various project typologies including historic properties, social service center establishments, assembly areas, medical care facilities, facilities with residential dwelling units for sale to individual owners, and detention and correctional facilities
• Source relevant information in Chapters 1 and 2 and Chapters 3 through 10, of the 2004 ADAAG (36 CFR part 1191, appendices B and D, adopted as part of both the Title II and Title III 2010 Standards
• Determine the number of accessible parking spaces required by the ADA
• Identify the dimensional requirements for car and van parking spaces and access aisles
• Determine the number of wheelchair spaces required in assembly areas
• Identify the clearance requirements for circulation along accessible routes
• Identify the maximum and minimum dimensions and clearance requirements for stairs, ramps, elevators, and platform lifts
• Look up the ADA requirements for toilet and bathing rooms and their elements
• Confirm the ADA requirements for communication elements and features including fire alarm systems and building signage