ACCESS E-BULLETIN
Disability and Communication Access Board

Edition #7                                                                                                                        June 2008
In This Issue
Breaking News on Proposed Federal Changes to ADAAG
Universal Design e-Course
ICC/ANSI A117.1 2008 Edition
UPDATE: 2008 Disability Access Conference
REMINDERS: 2008 Accessible Design Awards
FAQ - ADAAG
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Disability and Communication Access Board
919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 101
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
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121 (Voice/TTY)  (808) 586-8129 (FAX)
E-mail: [email protected]
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Molokai & Lanai: 
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ext. 6-8121# (Voice)

 
Breaking News on Proposed Federal Changes in ADAAG - Hot Off the Press
 
The design and disability community should expect to see the most important proposed changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its accompanying design guidelines (ADAAG) in the month of June 2008.  On July 26, 1991 the Department of Justice published its final rules implementing Titles II and III of the ADA and referenced the ADAAG, issued by the U.S. Access Board, as attachments to both rules as the minimum standard for accessible design for new construction and alterations and the basis for examining readily achievable barrier removal and program access for existing facilities. The U.S. Access Board has since undertaken a comprehensive update of ADAAG and published a final design guideline applicable to both the ADA and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) on July 23, 2004.  However, until the guideline is adopted by the Department of Justice as a minimum standard, it is not enforceable under the ADA Title II or III.  The proposed rules to adopt the new guidelines are anticipted to be published in the Federal Register by mid-June, having just cleared the Federal Office of Management and Budget on May 23, 2008.  Among the key issues for the design community is how the new standards will be interpreted for readily achievable barrier removal under Title II and program access under Title III.  The public will have 60 days to comment.

John Wodatch, Chief of the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, will be the keynote speaker at DCAB's Design for All Conference and will be addressing the public comments on the proposed rules during his lunch keynote presentation.

DCAB Executive Director Francine Wai attended briefings on the proposals with key staff of the U.S. Department of Justice during recent mainland meetings.   She will be the lead DCAB staff to analyze these rules in order for DCAB to submit comments to the U.S. Department of Justice within the required 60 day comment period.  Questions may be directed to her at [email protected].

Universal Design e-Course Available
 
The National Center on Accessibility (NCA) is committed to using technology to provide continuing education programs that are cost-effective and conducive to busy work schedules. The following distance education program is available through NCA.

Introduction to Universal Design
Free one hour e-course.  Universal design refers to the creation of structures and programs that can be used by all people. This course provides an introduction to the concept of Universal Design and its seven principles. In addition, the course presents the history, principles, and progress of Universal Design as it applies to the designer, programmer, and the consumer.  This course has been specifically designed by the National Center on Accessibility for park and recreation practitioners.  The e-course is offered through the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at: Eppley Institute Universal Design Course


0.1 CEU is offered for completing the course.

ICC/ANSI A117.1 2008 Edition

In April, DCAB reviewed the International Code Council's  (ICC) 'First Draft of the ANSI A117.1 Standards on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, 2008 Edition'. DCAB submitted nine (9) comments to the ICC.  The Public Comments Report of the Committee Actions is available for viewing on the ICC website: Public Comments Report.

In addition, the 'Second Public Comments Draft' is now available for public comment. Public comments are requested only on the strike-out portions of the draft and the deadline for submitting comments is July 7, 2008. To view a copy of the draft or for more information on how to submit comments refer to the ICC website: Second Public Comments Draft

For questions regarding DCAB's comments to the ICC, please contact Mona Higa at 586-8121 (Voice/TTY) or via email at [email protected]

Conference Announcement
UPDATE
2008 Disability Access Conference
 
This year's '2008 Disability Access Conference: Design For All' will be held on October 16, 2008 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
 
The
15 sessions will focus on:
- Department of Justice's Legal Updates
- Fair Housing Act Accessibility Guidelines and Legal Updates
- Designing Accessible Facilities
- Historic Preservation and Accessibility
- Public Right-of-Way
- Curb Ramp Design and Construction
- Accessible Parking
- IBC/ANSI & ADAAG
- Residential and Non-Residential Accessibility Guidelines
 
The advanced program and registration form are available on our website at: www.hawaii.gov/health/dcab
 
For a hard copy of the advanced program or registration form please contact Mona Higa or Laurie Palenske at 586-8121 or via email at [email protected] or [email protected]
REMINDERS
2008 Accessible Design Awards
 
Don't forget to submit those entries for this year's 2008 Accessible Design Awards.  Submittals are open to not just public projects but to private project and residential projects as well.  The dealine for submittals is July 30, 2008.  Winners will be recognized at the 2008 Disability Access Conference at the Ala Moana Hotel.  Last year, Governor Linda Lingle and Dr. Chiyome Fukuno of the Department of Health attended and presented the awards.  For more information, see the "2008 Accessible Design Awards - Call for Entries" on the DCAB Homepage: http://hawaii.gov/health/dcab/docs/2008daccallforentries.pdf

Last year's Overall Award of Excellence and the Public Design Award of Merit winner was "Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline Improvements Phase I, Increment ".  Photos of this entry and the other Award of Merit winners are posted on the DCAB website at: http://hawaii.gov/health/dcab/2007accessibledesignawards/index.htm

FAQ - ADAAG 
 
4.30 Signage
 
1) Q: How is the 6-inch dimension measured for pictograms that are required to comply with ADAAG 4.30.4?
                     Signage
A: A pictogram includes both a symbol and the field on which it is displayed. The 6-inch vertical dimension applies to the field, not the symbol. The symbol may be smaller than the field. The required equivalent verbal descriptor must be placed below the pictogram and may not intrude on the 6-inch field.
 
FAQs are from the U.S. Access Board's website.