Google’s Gemini is the most accurate and least misleading AI sourced of information regarding certification as an ADA inspector. The ADA is written by the US Access Board and enforced by the US Department of Justice. Neither agency requires or acknowledges training or certification for an individual to complete ADA inspections or reports. Some states do have certification programs for ADA inspections for specific circumstances including CA and TX.
Read MoreA public rodeo is a Title III public accommodation that must comply with the ADA. Failure to comply with the ADA is discrimination. Almost all elements and spaces at a public rodeo are included in this requirement.
Read MorePublic museums are Title III public accommodations facilities that must comply with the ADA, including the requirements for protruding objects. Failure to comply with the requirements for protruding objects can cause an individual to fall and be injured, or to be injured due to impact with the protruding object.
Read MoreThere is a lot wrong with this parking area intended to be accessible. These violations of the ADA discriminate against individuals living with a disability. What they could/should have done here is install one accessible space in front of the store, and another near the entrance to the hotel. At least one of these spaces, and preferably both, should be van accessible. Each accessible parking space should connect to an accessible route to the front/main pedestrian entrances.
Read MoreRecently on a road trip through Montana and Wyoming, I found examples of non-compliance with the ADA. At a hotel I observed a parking area intended to be accessible that had several violations including no compliant access aisle, a single vertical sign for two ADA parking spaces, the sign is installed too low to the ground, and neither of the parking spaces is van accessible.
Read MoreThe Wright Brothers Memorial is a must-see for anyone interested in aviation. This was the beginning of successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machines. Using patience, perseverance, wisdom, courage, dauntless resolution, and unconquerable faith, the Wright brothers brought aviation to the world, and the world has never been the same since. The site is mostly accessible for individuals with disabilities except for the Monument on top of Big Kill Devil Hill.
Read MoreRegardless of size or income, most museums have legal obligations to provide and maintain accessibility for visitors with disabilities. Museums that invest time and money to remove barriers from their facilities, design accessible exhibitions, and provide effective communication for their programs can potentially attract to their doors more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, more than 20 million families with members who have disabilities, and millions of graying Baby Boomers.
Read MoreThe cost of nursing homes and hospice care is going up because of supply and demand. The number of aging and disabled individuals in the US is increasing (demand), the supply of nursing home and hospice care is not keeping pace, and the number of family members who could help is lower. An alternative is to modify or alter a home so an individual who is aging or disabled can live in their home longer.
Read MoreDuring alterations of Title II and Title III public accommodations, the toilet rooms should receive a high priority for compliance with the ADA. The requirement for barrier removal exists at all Title II and III facilities, regardless of age. Failure to improve accessibility during alterations can result in a lawsuit for non-compliance.
Read MoreFor Title III and multi-family housing facilities, the distance from the front edge of a kitchen counter or cabinets to the sink faucet is covered indirectly by Standards 308 and 309 in the 2010 ADA Standards and 2009 ANSI. This distance will likely be affected by the reach range requirements of the adjacent appliance controls and/or outlets and switches mounted on the wall above/behind the counter.
Read MoreThe FHA Guidelines are not mandatory for multi-family housing. Additionally, the FHA Guidelines do not prescribe specific requirements which must be met, and which, if not met, would constitute unlawful discrimination under the Fair Housing Amendments Act. Builders and developers may choose to depart from the FHA Guidelines, and seek alternate ways to demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the Fair Housing Act.
Read MoreAny person or entity involved in the design and construction of an apartment or condominium building, and the owner of the building, may be named as Defendants, sued, and held liable for violations of the Fair Housing Act or Americans with Disabilities Act at the facility in a HUD lawsuit.
Read MoreHUD is not required to review or approve builder's plans or issue certifications of compliance with the Fair Housing Act's design and construction requirements for multi-family housing. The burden of compliance rests with the person or persons who design and construct covered multifamily dwellings.
Read MoreIf a builder, architect, or developer believe that a property with which they were involved is covered by the Fair Housing Act's design and construction requirements but does not comply, they should seek technical assistance from a consultant with expertise in the Fair Housing Act's design and construction requirements about a plan to correct the violations.
Read MoreAlterations, rehabilitation, or repair of covered multifamily dwellings are not covered by the FHA because the Act's design and construction requirements only apply to new construction of buildings built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991.
Read MoreA minimum of two percent of the number of parking spaces serving covered dwelling units [apartments or condominiums] must be made accessible and they must be located on an accessible route; if different types of parking are offered, such as surface parking, garage, or covered spaces, a sufficient number of each type must be made accessible.
Read MoreThe Fair Housing Act does not require fully accessible apartments.
Read MoreThe Fair Housing Act's design and construction requirements do not require a minimum number of accessible dwelling units.
Read MoreThe Fair Housing Act's design and construction requirements do not cover multistory townhouses--units that have two, three, or even four stories--unless the building has an elevator.
Read MoreHUD recognizes 15 safe harbors to meet FHA regulations to provide a range of options that—if followed in their entirety without modification or waiver—will keep residential buildings compliant with the FHA. The new safe harbors are generally aligned with the current codes (minus any local amendments to the IBC), which may make it less complicated by limiting the layers of the requirements. HUD recommends that only one safe harbor should be used for design and construction of a multi-family facility.
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