Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that state and local governments ensure that persons with disabilities have access to pedestrian routes in the public right of way.  An important part of this requirement is the obligation whenever streets, roadways, or highways are altered to provide curb ramps where street level pedestrian walkways cross curbs.  State and local governments have sought guidance on the scope of the alterations requirement with respect to the provision of curb ramps when streets, roads or highways are being resurfaced.  This joint technical assistance document addresses some of these requests for guidance.  In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Transportation issued a glossary that is intended to help readers understand certain road treatments referenced in the joint technical assistance document.

The joint technical assistance document is available at http://www.ada.gov/doj-fhwa-ta.htm.

The glossary is available at http://www.ada.gov/doj-fhwa-ta-glossary.htm.

 

The DCAB web site has been modernized to ensure that the site is more accessible to persons with disabilities.  In addition, the site content is more clearly organized, which improves navigation to the various DCAB programs, resources, and documents.  For example, the Facility Access page has a direct link to Facility Access Review Form used by state and county agencies and their design consultants when submitting plans and specifications to DCAB for review under Hawaii Law HRS §103-50.

Check out the entire site at http://health.hawaii.gov/dcab/ and be sure to update any bookmarks to DCAB's web pages.

The U.S. Access Board has released for public comment proposed accessibility guidelines for passenger vessels.  Developed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the guidelines provide design criteria for large vessels when newly constructed or altered to ensure that they are accessible to people with disabilities.  The guidelines address various features of vessel accessibility and include provisions for onboard routes, vertical access between decks, doorways and coamings, toilet rooms, guest rooms, alarm systems, and other spaces and elements used by passengers.  More information about the guidelines is available at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/transportation/passenger-vessels/proposed-accessibility-guidelines. 

The U.S. Access Board extended the deadline for public comments.  Comments on the proposed guidelines are now due on January 24, 2014, instead of September 23, 2013.

DCAB is in the process of reviewing the proposed guidelines and may submit comments.  For more information about DCAB's review, please contact Curtis Motoyama, Facility Access Coordinator, at (808) 586-8121 or e-mail at curtis.motoyama@doh.hawaii.gov.

Learn more about the ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines through the U.S. Access Board and DBTAC's continuing series of webinars and audio conferences.  Upcoming sessions include:

• Open Question and Answer Session on September 4, 2013 @ 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (Hawaii time)
• Accessible Playground Surfaces on October 3, 2013 @ 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (Hawaii time)
• Accessible Alterations on January 9, 2014 @ 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Hawaii time)
• Accessible Routes on Sites on February 6, 2014 @ 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Hawaii time)
• Open Questions and Answers on March 6, 2014 @ 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Hawaii time)

General attendance to the webinars are free.  A variety of Continuing Education (CE) Recognitions are available at no charge, such as AIA, LAS, and AICP.

 

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HRS 103-50 Document Transmittal Form (Rev Dec 2012)
 
2004 ADAAG