ADA Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including buildings. Title III requires that places of public accommodation be accessible to people with disabilities. The ADA Standards for Accessible Design, based on the ICC/ANSI A117.1 standard, provide specific dimensional requirements. Architects must ensure that at least one accessible route connects site arrival points (parking, sidewalks, transit stops) to all accessible building entrances, floors, and rooms. Accessibility is not optional or aspirational—it is a federal civil rights requirement.