ADA Facilities Compliance Continuing Education Courses & Resources

Typical Day - Public Entities: (State and Local Governmental Entities)

Overview of Title II Requirements (1 - 2 hours)

Responsibilities for Governmental bodies, agencies and those who receive “significant assistance” from such entities must achieve the highest standard of accessibility: “program access” to existing services. This session reviews the broad scope of that requirement (with the exception of transportation routes and vehicles) as listed in Title II.

Communication Barriers to people with Visual Impairments (30 - 60 minutes)

Communication is a critical responsibility mandated by Title II. This session looks at the diversified needs of individuals who have difficulty with visually presented materials.

Communication Barriers to people with Speech or Hearing Impairments (30 - 60 minutes)

Communications must be “as effective” for those with disabilities as for others. For individuals with speech or hearing disabilities, this is a new guarantee of freedom. You will learn the breadth of what that new freedom requires from governmental entities and what their special needs are in this session.

Self-Evaluations and Transition Plans (3 - 5 hours)

Perhaps the least understood of all requirements of the ADA is the responsibility of all state and local governmental entities to prepare self-evaluations and, in most cases, transition plans. This section reviews those requirements and the few exceptions to the requirement for removing barriers. After reviewing the basic responsibilities, participants are divided into small teams to examine typical barriers found in public entities. Each team will review and propose a solution to their barrier for the entire class to discuss. A broad spectrum of barriers including those found in communications, transportation, security, facilities, publications, housing, contracts and others are examples used in this enlightening exercise. A detailed handout is provided for your use in developing your own self-evaluation.

ADAAG or UFAS – Which Standard to Choose? (15 minutes)

This short session reviews the key differences between the two options currently available to public entities as their design standard. A detailed written comparison complements the review. What does the future hold for UFAS and ADAAG? Public entities will want to base their selection, not only on the differences between the two, but also on their probable changes during the coming months.

Preparing RFP'S for ADA Facilities Consulting or Surveying Services (15 minutes)

Many public entities decide to request the assistance of design professionals or disability specialists in preparing their self-evaluations and transition plans. This session reviews the key elements of a well-prepared Request for Proposal for such services. You will learn how to ask for exactly the services you want and how to minimize assumptions and omissions by your proposers.

Flexible (Vague) Areas in the Regulations and Design Standards (30 - 240 minutes)

A significant number of areas of application are still uncertain. Our instructors will give you the benefit of their insights gained from thousands of hours of studying, discussing and teaching this pervasive law. Participants will select the topics.