Sliding doors are a great way to save space and still have privacy.  In an accessible design, the hardware becomes the most problematic.  Some hardware that will make the width narrower than 32" wide, and sometimes the pocket type sliding doors have the type of hardware that requires the use of the hands by twisting, pulling or pinching the hardware in order to use it.  See this video on how most hardware works.  Most use fingers to push and pull the door open and closed.

Below are some hardware that are not  good for accessibility.  The recessed handle  could work if the gap is wider than a fist.  In other words, person who does not have good use of their fingers (like people with rheumatoid arthritis, or cerebral palsy) would only have the use of a closed fist to operate this door.  So the gap will have to be wide enough to allow them to use it.

The hardware on this door will allow for a person to use their fist inside the loop, but to design the opening, the designer  will have to take into account the door handle.  A 32" wide door will not work since the door handle will make the opening narrower. Thus door opening needs to be wider, which may require the use of a non-standard width door.

The hardware shown on this photo can be lifted with a closed fist and it is narrow enough where the door opening will not narrow as  much once the pocket door is recessed.

The ADA provisions for doors are in place to allow independent maneuvering and usability by people with disabilies.  Power assisted doors are very useful if the maneuvering clearances at doors and the door hardware is such that does not allow independent use by disabled people.  Power assisted and automatic doors are not required, but  can be used If there are existing doors that do not have the proper width, proper maneuvering clearances or proper hardware.  This is true because the power assited doors have an automatic type mechanism which will open the door for the person who can't open it on their own. 

The 2010 Standards, only allows an exception for providing maneuvering clearances and 32' minimum width at one active leaf in a double door as shown on Table 404.2.4.1  if the power assisted door has stand-by power.  Then the landing requirements, push and pull side clearances and even widths at double leaf doors will not be required to comply.  The reason is because stand-by power allows the door to remain open in the case of a power outage.  Without stand-by power the power assisted doors will not be able to be operated if the minimum clearances are not also provided.