36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191 ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines - Preamble (Discussion of Comments and Changes)

Comment. The proposed rule referenced examples of acceptable methods (grilles, slats, talk-through baffles, intercoms, and telephone handset devices) and required access both for persons who use wheelchairs and for persons who may have difficulty bending or stooping. Commenters indicated that access for persons who have difficulty bending or stooping is unclear absent specific technical criteria. Such criteria should be provided or the requirement removed according to these comments. In addition, it was recommended that the requirement for volume control for "hand-operable communication devices" be revised for clarity as applying to telephone handset devices.

Response. The requirement that methods to facilitate voice communication be accessible both to persons who use wheelchairs and to persons who may have difficulty bending or stooping has been removed in the final rule (904.6). The Board has also clarified that the requirement for volume controls applies to telephone handset devices, where provided. In addition, the Board has relocated information concerning acceptable types of communication methods to the corresponding advisory note which is a more appropriate location for this kind of information.