Cities and Counties: First Steps Toward Solving Common ADA Problems

More Steps Toward Access....

ADA Coordinators:  Ensure that you have designated a well-trained and knowledgeable ADA Coordinator, who knows the appropriate steps to take to retain sign language interpreters or obtain assistive listening devices, and how and when to transfer a program to an accessible facility. Instruct your employees to contact the ADA Coordinator if they get disability-related questions they cannot answer.

Local Resources: Involve people with disabilities whenever possible in your planning, development, and management. Good resources include local Centers for Independent Living and state-wide Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers.

Designing Facilities: When selecting design professionals such as architects and engineers to design your buildings and outdoor facilities, find out how much expertise they have with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Do not rely solely on contract language that states that they must design your building to comply with all applicable laws, or expect that it is enough if they follow your local building code.

Certification: Encourage your building code officials to submit your building code for review and certification by the Department of Justice, if they have not already done so. Title III of the ADA authorizes the Department of Justice to certify that State laws, local building codes, or similar ordinances meet or exceed the ADA Standards for Accessible Design for new construction and alterations. Certification facilitates voluntary ADA compliance by assuring that certified State and local accessibility requirements meet or exceed ADA requirements. See "ADA Certification of State and Local Accessibility Requirements"