36 CFR Part 1195 Proposed Accessibility Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment NPRM - Preamble

M101.3 Equivalent Facilitation

The use of alternative designs and technologies that result in substantially equivalent or greater accessibility than specified in the proposed standards is permitted. Generally, alternative designs or technologies that rely on assisted transfer only (e.g., use of a patient lift) are not permitted because they do not provide for independent access to and use of diagnostic equipment by patients with disabilities to the maximum extent possible. However, the standards include technical criteria for clearance in or around the base of the equipment for lift compatibility to allow the use of a patient lift by patients with disabilities for whom independent transfer may not be possible, and the use of alternative designs or technologies for lift compatibility is permitted.