Design_Guidebook_Gateway_Spring_2013

A quick reference guide specially designed to help
emerging design professionals on how to identify
and resolve accessibility elements during early
design development.This guide is compatible with
practices in Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape
Architecture, and Historic Preservation at the Boston
Architectural College.
Equal Opportunity Design
an inclusive design guidebook
Architecture
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Historic Preservation
[ ]
created by:
Abigail Pleiss (B’Arch),
Apollonia Thomas (B’Arch)
Fernanda Dias Pinto (B’Arch)
Luis Araque (BID)
Melissa Sherifi (BDS)
Emmanuel Andrade (Faculty, IHCD)
A digital version of this guidebook is available
on the BAC Student Development Blog at
http://thebacstudentdevelopmentblog.blogspot.com/.
Please support this publication! Feel free
to disseminate it to your colleagues.

This reference guide was produced by the FHCGB Gateway Project, a project of the Boston
Architectural College in partnership with the Institute for Human Centered Design and the
Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston.This project was developed under a grant from the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, EOI-HEC Grant number 12019.The
contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Table of Contents
What is Inclusive Design? 4
History of Accessibility Laws
and Regulations in the U.S. 5
Exterior
Site Arrival Points 6
Parking7
Entrances8-9
Interior
Circulation10-11
Bathrooms 12-13
Kitchens 14-15
Common Use Areas 16
Bedrooms 17
Resources for Other
Spaces and Facilities 18
AccessibilityTerms Glossary 19

What is Inclusive Design?
What is
inclusive design,
universal design,
design-for-all?
a framework for the
design of places,
things, information,
communication and policy
that focuses on the user
that serves the widest
range of people operating
in the widest range of
situations without special
or separate design
that allows for human-
centered design
(of everything)
with everyone in mind
A worldwide movement promoting design as a support for independence and participation, Inclusive Design has evolved
in response to an expanding demographic and social reality: more people living with a wide array of disabilities and chronic
health conditions than ever before and the longest lifespans in history. Inclusive Design is also called Universal Design,
Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but an orientation to any design process that starts with a
responsibility to the experience of the user. No matter what it’s called, the message is the same:
If it works well for people with disabilities, it works better for everyone!
Legally mandated requirements for accessible design, framed within a civil rights context, provide a vital basis for autonomy
and opportunity. Effectiveness is contingent on establishing an infrastructure of information and enforcement in order to
ensure meaningful compliance. Inevitably, the legal mandates establish a set of minimums, a floor. Laws are an invaluable
beginning but they are inherently limited. Legal design requirements for accessibility tend to focus on the needs of people
with mobility limitations, especially wheelchair users, with some attention to people with vision limitations.
Legal mandates are limited to specific types of places and set minimum
requirements focused on specific users, especially people who use wheelchairs.
Design details can substantially reduce the impact of the spectrum of limitations common to aging but legally required
accessibility contributes minimally to that potential. Legal mandates and minimum requirements are almost guaranteed
to result in “just tell me what I have to do” attitudes by covered parties that miss the potential and power of design as a
social art that shapes everyone’s daily experience and sense of self.
This is not about code compliance.This is about civil rights!
The way disability is defined and understood has also changed in the last decade. Disability was once assumed as a way to
characterize a particular set of largely stable limitations. Now the World Health Organization (WHO) has moved toward a
new international classification system, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF 2001).The
WHO defines disability as a contextual variable, dynamic over time and in relation to circumstances. One is more or less
disabled based on the interaction between the person and the individual, institutional and social environments.
The World Health Organization redefined disability as a contextual phenomenon,
dictated by the intersection of a person and his/her environment.
This means that, as designers, we have the power to create environments that may or may not be disabling to those using
them.This is not about a certain group of people, this is about all of us! The three accreditation bodies that impact degree
programs at the BAC – NAAB, LAAB, and NCIDQ – agree with this idea.At the BAC, students are now required to be
introduced to accessible and inclusive design as part of their studies.
Are you ready to make a positive difference with your design?4

1950
Development of
National Barrier
Free Standards
Disabled veterans and
people with disabilities
begin the barrier-free
movement, resulting in
standards for “barrier-
free” buildings.
1945
WWII Ends
Over 670,800
are injured and/or
disabled.
1953
Korean War
Ends
Over 92,000 are
injured and/or
disabled.
1961
ANSI Passes
A117.1
Accessible
and Usable
Buildings and
Facilities
Created standards
for private sector
facilities.
1964
Civil Rights Act
Banned discrimination by
private businesses against
women and racial or ethnic
minorities and by public
accommodations against
minorities.
1968
Fair Housing Act Passed
shortly after the assassination
of Dr. Martin Luther King,
it prohibited discrimination
based on race, color, religion
and national origin.
http://portal.hud.gov/
hudportal/HUD?src=/
program_offices/fair_housing_
equal_opp/aboutfheo/history
1968
Architectural
Barriers Act
It marks one of
the first efforts to
ensure equal access
to public buildings
for Americans with
disabilities.
1973
Rehabilitation
Act
Prohibits
employment
discrimination
against individuals
in the federal sector.
1975
Vietnam
War Ends
Over 153,303
are injured and/
or disabled.
2001- Present
War onTerror:
Iraq and
Afghanistan
Over 42,000 are
injured and/or
disabled.
Over 247,000
veterans diagnosed
with PTSD.
1995
Gulf War
Ends
Over 800 are
injured and/or
disabled. One in
four GulfWar
veterans suffer
from GulfWar
Illness.
1984
Uniform
Federal
Accessibility
Standards
Specifies
requirements to
fulfill compliance
with 1968 ABA.
1988
Fair Housing Act Amended
The act was amended to include
discrimination against people with
disabilities and families with children.
For technical assistance, see the Fair
Housing Act Accessibility FIRST website,
www.fairhousingfirst.org.
1990
Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA)
Prohibits discrimination on the
basis of disability; establishes design
requirements for the construction or
alteration of facilities required to be
accessible. It covers facilities in the
private sector and the public sector.
http://dredf.org/publications/ada_
history.shtml
2010
ADA Standards for
Accessible Design
The Department of Justice
published revised regulations
for the ADA of 1990. New
construction and alterations
must now comply with the
2010 Standards.
http://www.ada.gov/2010
ADAstandards_index.htm
History of Disabilities Laws and Regulations in the U.S.
1950’s
2000’s
2010’s
1960’s
1970’s
1980’s
1990’s
2013
Fair Housing Act
New guidance released by
HUD and DOJ reinforces the
Fair Housing Act requirement
that multifamily housing be
designed and constructed so as
to be accessible to persons with
disabilities.
5

????*An accessible route must be provided from public transportation
stops, accessible parking spaces, accessible passenger loading zones,
and public streets or sidewalks to accessible building entrances.
For more information, visit http://www.huduser.org/portal/
publications/pdf/fairhousing/fairch1.pdf.
MORE INFOMORE INFO
Site Arrival Points
How would
everyone arrive at
your project?
Exterior accessible routes
to accessible entrances may
include parking access aisles,
drop-off areas, bus stops.
The pedestrian environment
should be safe. Pedestrian
crosswalks should ensure
the mobility of all users by
accommodating the needs
of people regardless of age
or ability.
Sidewalks should be clear
of obstructions, including
overhanging branches, utility
poles, and signs. A minimum
headroom of 80” should
be provided at all exterior
pedestrians routes.
Curb ramps should be
provided at both ends of
pedestrian crosswalks.
Additionally, detectable
warnings should provide a
tactile cue to pedestrians
with vision impairments.
Sidewalks should be paved
with a smooth, stable and
slip-resistant material to
accommodate wheelchairs,
bicycles and strollers.
Changes in level over 1/4” are
considered tripping hazards.
6

????
Parking
*MORE INFOMORE INFO
If parking is provided for the public, an adequate number of accessible spaces
must be provided.The table below describes the relation between the total
number of parking spaces and the required accessible parking spaces:
Total Spaces Accessible Spaces
1 - 25 1
26 - 50 2
51 - 75 3
76 - 100 4
100+ see 2010 Standards 208.2
For every six or fraction of six accessible parking spaces required by the table
above, at least one should be a van accessible space.
Accessible parking spaces must be on the shortest accessible route to the
accessible building entrance.
Accessible parking spaces
should have an access aisle
located adjacent to them
to permit a person using
a wheelchair to enter or
exit the car.These spaces
should be level and must be
identified with a sign.
At van designated spaces,
a vertical clearance of
96” should be provided
to safely and comfortably
accommodate vans and
wheelchair lifts and other
specialized equipment.
The international symbol of
accessibility should be placed
in front of the parking space
mounted at least 5’ above
the ground, measured to the
bottom of the sign. Signs for
van spaces should include
the words ‘van accessible’.
Accessible spaces should
connect to the shortest
possible accessible route
to the accessible building
entrance or facility they
serve.
Van designated spaces may
be 11’ wide if the access
aisle is 5’ wide.Alternatively,
van designated spaces may
be 8’ wide if the access aisle
is also 8’ wide.
How would
people park at
your project?
or
5’
5’ 8’
98”
60”
11’
8’8’
7

????
Entrances
Entrance doors should
be at least 36” wide and
should have the required
maneuvering clearance on
both sides. A sidelight can
be provided for privacy and
safety.
In addition to the regular
peephole, a lowered peep
hole (42” - 48” above the
floor) provides security for
children, shorter people,
or for those using wheeled
mobility devices.
Kickplates on the push side
of doors can reduce the
wear caused by someone
pushing the door with
the wheelchair foot rests.
Kickplates should extend
from the floor surface up to
a height of at least 10”.
Door hardware should
have handles with latches
that are operable without
tight grasping, pinching,
or twisting. Lever-type
door hardware is highly
recommended.
Changes in level greater
than 1/2” create tripping
hazards for people with
mobility impairments and
barriers for those using
wheeled mobility devices.
Whenever possible, use no
or low-profile threshold as
well as recessed floor mats.
How would
people enter your
building?
*MORE INFOMORE INFO
In addition to the features described at the bottom of this page, consider the
following for residential entrances in your project:
• At least one no-step entry with a cover;
• Sensor light at the entry focusing on the front-door lock;
• Non-slip flooring on both sides of the door;
• Doorbell and mailbox at an accessible height;
• Surface to place packages on when opening door.
For more information, visit http://www.huduser.org/portal/publications/pdf/
fairhousing/fairch3.pdf.
42” - 48”
18” min
Residential
8

Public buildings should
have at least one accessible
entrance.Wherever
possible, this should be the
main entrance intended for
use by the general public.
In existing buildings, if for
architectural or technical
reasons the main entrance
cannot be made accessible,
an alternative accessible
entrance should be
provided.
In multi-story buildings, the
accessible entrance should
permit access to a
conveniently located
accessible elevator or lift.
An accessible entrance
must provide doors
with maneuvering space,
accessible door hardware,
low or flush threshold,
and enough clear width to
allow people using wheeled
mobility devices to use it.
An accessible route should
connect each accessible
entrance to accessible
indoor or outdoor parking
areas, local public transit
stops and drop-off areas.
*All public buildings must have at least one accessible building entrance
on an accessible route. Main factors which must be addressed are:
• minimum clear width of open doorway 32 inches
• low or no threshold
• clear maneuvering space inside and outside the door,
• force needed to open the door
• accessible door hardware;
• safe door closing speed.
MORE INFOMORE INFO
Public
9

Hallways:
Protruding Objects
• Height from floor = max. 27”
• Height from above = min. 80”
• Applies to outdoors spaces as well
Doors:
Vertical Circulation:
Elevators:
• Passenger
• Service
• LU/LA (not acceptable for new buildings)
• Residential
Lifts:
• Inclined
• Vertical
• Chair lift (residential use)
Circulation
60”
MIN
18”
MIN
80”
MIN
27”
Max
48” Max
• Width = min. 32”
• Opening Force = max. 5 LBF
• Closing Speed = min. 3 secs
• Threshold = max. 1/2”
• Hardware = max. 48”
• Maneuvering Clearances
10

Signage:
• Character Proportion Height
• Raised and Braille Characters
• Finish Contrast
• Mounting Location Height =
48” to 60”, located on the latch
side of doors for consistency
• Symbols of Accessibility
Stairways:
• Treads Risers
• Nosings
• Handrails = the only ‘safety net’ for
people while using the stairways.
Required cross section offers an effective
pinch grip for those who rely on the
handrails for balance and support.
Railing extensions are
required at the top and
bottom of all stairways
and ramps.
12”
1- 1/4” - 2”
60”
max48”
MIN
Ramps:
• Run = max. 30’
• Rise = max. 30”
• Handrails
• Width (between railings) =
• min. 48” in MA, min, 36” ADA
• Landings = min. 60” X 60”,
every 30’or at any change of direction
or at top and bottom of ramp
• Slope = max. 8.3%
11

????
Would everyone
be able to use the
bathroom in your
building?
Bathrooms
A clear floor space of
30” x 48” at fixtures as
well as a 60” turnaround
space allows those using
wheeled mobility devices
to maneuver inside the
bathroom.
A knee space under the
lavatory provides a forward
approach for those using
wheeled mobility devices.
Walls around toilets, grab
bars, and showers should
be reinforced with blocking
or plywood for future
installation of grab bars.
Mirrors or medicine
cabinets above the lavatory
should be mounted low
enough for people who
are seated, people of short
stature and children.
Handles, faucets, and
controls should not require
gripping and twisting –
lever-type fixtures are
recommended. Control
location can greatly improve
the usability and safety in
the bathroom.
11 2222 33 44 55
34” MAX
33-34”
17-19”
11
2222
33
44
55
Residential
12

Plumbing below the lavatory
should be covered to
protect legs and knees
from burns and abrasions.
In single-user or inside
accessible toilet stalls of
multi-user bathrooms,
grab bars are critical for
many people with mobility
impairments to be able to
safely transfer on and off
the toilet.
Urinals should be mounted
no higher than 17” above
the floor and a clear floor
space should be provided to
allow a forward approach.
The highest operable part
of dispensers, receptacles,
and other accessories
should be mounted at a
maximum height of 48”
above the floor.
Accessible toilet stalls
should be on an accessible
route and must meet the
requirements for toilets,
size and arrangement, toe
clearances, doors, and grab
bars.
11 2222 33 44 55
33-36”
17”27” MIN34” MAX
17-19”
60”
11
44
55
33
2222
Public
*Bathrooms within accessible dwelling units as well as bathrooms in
public buildings, should be accessible. Accessibility standards impose
strict regulations on the fixtures and accessories in these spaces
MORE INFOMORE INFO
13

????
Kitchens
Because cooktops can be
individually installed at
varying heights with knee
space underneath, they are
a good choice for people
with mobility impairments.
Kitchen hardware (fixture
and appliance controls,
cabinetry handles) should
be operable with one hand
without tight grasping,
pinching, or twisting of the
wrist.
Light switches and appliance
controls (range hood,
garbage disposal, etc.) could
be placed on an apron for
added convenience and
flexibility from a seated
position.
A 30” x 48” clear floor
space should be provided
at each kitchen appliance or
fixture. Each of these clear
floor spaces should adjoin
the accessible route that
must pass into and through
the kitchen.
Work surfaces should
be located immediately
adjacent to appliances.A
convenient pull-out counter
beneath a built-in single
wall oven allows for easy
transfer of dishes.
Would everyone
be able to use the
kitchen in your
building?
14

A shallow sink with a drain
closer to the side or rear
of the basin provides more
usable knee clearance for a
forward approach.
The ‘work triangle’ is
a design concept that
accommodates cooks,
even those in wheelchairs
or with limited mobility. It
refers to the positioning of
the stove, the refrigerator,
and the sink.
Cooktop controls should be
side- or front-mounted for
easy access from a seated
position. Buttons should be
easy to grasp and should
include high contrast labels.
A 60” diameter turning
circle is required in
U-shaped kitchens
to provide adequate
maneuvering space for a
person using a wheeled
mobility device.
Shallow storage closets, such
as pantries, may have doors
that do not provide a 32”
clear width since they do
not require he user to pass
through the door to reach
the contents.
60”
34” MAX
LOWEST
SHELF
48”
27” MIN
Residential and Public
*Kitchens within accessible dwelling units as well as kitchenettes in
public buildings, should be accessible. The design of kitchens usable by
a person with a disability demands careful consideration and
thoughtful planning. Careful location of appliances, plumbing fixtures
and cabinetry is essential to achieve the required maneuvering
clearances and clear floor spaces that are required in an accessible
and functional kitchen. Careful design will produce a kitchen that
provides an accessible and functionally efficient layout that is easily
usable by a person with a disability or mobility impairment, as well as
an able-bodied person.
MORE INFOMORE INFO
15

????
Common Use Areas
Mailboxes serving accessible
dwelling units should be
located on an accessible
route and should be
installed within accessible
reach range (48” maximum)
for forward or side
approach.
In a laundry room, at least
one washer and one
dryer should be located
along an accessible route
with controls within
reach range. Front-loading
appliances are easier to use
than top-loading ones.
Within a building containing
accessible dwelling units,
trash chutes and recycling
amenities should be
accessible and should be on
an accessible route.
Common use areas include
game rooms, which should
be accessible and connected
by an accessible route to
the accessible dwelling units.
Meeting rooms and lounges
are also part of common
use areas. Special attention
to furniture layout should
be given when providing an
accessible route to theses
spaces.
*MORE INFOMORE INFO
Public and common use areas that must be accessible include, but are not
limited to, such spaces and elements as selected on-site walks, parking,
corridors, lobbies, drinking fountains and water coolers, swimming pool
decks or aprons, playgrounds, rental offices, mailbox areas, trash rooms/refuse
disposal areas, lounges, clubhouses, tennis courts, health spas, game rooms,
toilet rooms and bathing facilities, laundries, community rooms, and portions
of common use tenant storage.
Would everyone be able
to use all amenities
in your building?
16

36” min60”
Bedrooms
*Accessible features should be provided into and throughout an entire
accessible dwelling unit, including the bedroom.The accessible route must
be sufficiently wide and lacking in abrupt changes in level so residents with
disabilities (and/ or their guests with disabilities) can safely use all rooms
and spaces, including storage areas and, under most circumstances, exterior
balconies and patios that may be part of their dwelling unit.
MORE INFOMORE INFO
A clear floor space for
a turning circle of 5’
within the room allows
full accessibility for those
using wheeled mobility
devices.
A clear floor space of
30” x 48” should be
provided adjacent to the
bed for easy transfer.
Light switches should be
provided at the entry
door as well as next to
the bed. Outlets, switches,
and thermostats should be
mounted between 15” and
18” above the floor.
Wardrobes and closets
should provide adjustable
shelving as well as hanging
rods at varied heights.
A light fixture inside the
closet improves the ease of
locating items.
Many people have difficulty
opening and closing single-
and double-hung windows
due to the physical strength
and reach required. Crank-
operated (casement) or
light weight sliding windows
are preferable.
????Are bedrooms in your
building functional
for everyone?
17

Resources for Other Spaces and Facilities
• Amusement Rides
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#pgfId-1016013
• Assembly Areas (or Places of Assembly)
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#sec221
http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/dps/aab-regs/521014.pdf
• Commercial Buildings
• Detention Facilities Correctional Facilities
• Dressing, Fittting, Locker Rooms
• Educational Facilities
• Exercise Machines Equipment
• Fishing Piers Platforms
• Golf Facilities
• Houses of Worship
• Judicial Facilities
• Medical Care Long-Term Care Facilities
• Miniature Golf Facilities
• Play Areas
• Recreational Boating Facilities
• Recreational Facilities
• Restaurants
• Saunas and Steam Rooms
• Shooting Facilities with Firing Positions
• Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas
• Transient Lodging Facilities
• Transportation Facilities (or Terminals)
*For comprehensive best practice guidance on how to design spaces that can be used by all people,
regardless of size, age, or ability, consider downloading the following material:
• The NYC Guidebook to Accessibility and Universal Design
http://www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/downloads/pdf/udny/udny2.pdf
• City of Winnipeg: Universal Design Guiding Principles
http://winnipeg.ca/ppd/Universal_Design.stm
• Building for Everyone: A Universal Design Approach
http://www.universaldesign.ie/buildingforeveryone
• ADA in 3D App: An interactive version of 2010 ADA Standards
http://www.universaldesignstyle.com/ada-in-3d/
• Universal Design Green Home Survey Checklist
http://www.homemods.org/resources/PDF/UDGreenHomeChecklist061609-FINAL.pdf
MORE INFOMORE INFO
18

Additional Resources
Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD)
The Institute for Human Centered Design, founded in Boston in 1978 as Adaptive Environments, is
an international non-governmental educational organization (NGO) committed to advancing the
role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities
through excellence in design. IHCD’s work balances expertise in legally required accessibility with
promotion of best practices in human-centered or universal design. IHCD’s core beliefs are:
• Design is powerful and profoundly influences our daily lives and our sense of confidence, comfort, and control;
• Variation in human ability is ordinary, not special, and affects most of us for some part of our lives.
www.IHCDesign.org
200 Portland Street, 1st floor
Boston, MA 02114
Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston (FHCGB)
Founded in 1998, the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston is the only comprehensive fair housing organization
working to eliminate housing discrimination and promote open communities throughout the region.The FHCGB
pursues its mission in Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex and Plymouth counties through offering a full tool kit of fair
housing services:Testing, Case Advocacy,Training, Community Outreach, Policy Advocacy, and Research. Funded by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, foundation and corporate donors, and individual supporters,
the FHCGB works to break the silence surrounding housing discrimination, to offer recourse to people harmed
by discrimination, and educate and inform housing professionals and residents of their rights and responsibilities.
www.bostonfairhousing.org
262 Washington Street, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL)
BCIL is a non-profit organization that has provided services to people with disabilities since the organization’s
founding in 1974, when it became the second independent living center in the country.The organization was
created by people with disabilities seeking full integration into society. BCIL accomplishes this by empowering
people with disabilities with the practical skills and self-confidence to take control over their lives and become
active members of the communities in which they live.At the same time, BCIL works to promote access and
change within society and responds with programs and services to the needs of people of all ages with a wide
range of disabilities. BCIL is a frontline civil rights organization led by people with disabilities that advocates
to eliminate discrimination, isolation and segregation by providing advocacy, information and referral, peer
support, skills training, and PCA services in order to enhance the independence of people with disabilities.
www.bostoncil.org
60 Temple Place, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Universal Design Case Study Collection
This website hosts an international collection of Universal Design case studies of the built
environment designed to appeal to a global audience of design practitioners, educators, students
and other built-environment project stakeholders ranging from individuals to governments. This
project seeks to explore the current “best practices” in Universal Design in the built environment
and make this information freely available for individuals planning projects in the build environment.
This resource will enable quick and easy access to state-of-the-art case studies of Universal Design
in the built environment that illustrate good examples for a diverse audience.With the case studies
available anywhere anytime, someone planning to build a new school or health center or to renovate
an historic cultural facility would readily access information about inclusively designed precedents.
Each case study will include descriptions of the project’s Universal Design and environmental design
features, evaluations, photos, images and information about the team that designed and built the project.
The categories are health, outdoor places, transport, commercial, culture, education, housing, public
buildings and historic preservation and worship spaces. Case studies are rich in visual supports.
www.udcasestudies.org
Access to Design Professions
Access to Design Professions is a Leadership Initiative Project funded by the National Endowment
for the Arts. It was inspired by and dedicated to the late Ron Mace, the creator of the term “universal
design”.The project will find ways that people with disabilities can enter and sustain themselves in the
professions of architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture.We believe
that they will use their personal experience of disability to contribute to great universal design, as
did Ron Mace.The current lack of designers with disabilities perpetuates the practice of design that
isolates, excludes and stigmatizes people with disabilities.As we evolve our definition and practice of
universal design into a more holistic, socially inclusive approach, we need diversity of practitioners. In
2002,ADP published Building a World Fit for People: Designers with Disabilities at Work, a book that
describes the career development of 21 designers with disabilities from around the world.This valuable
resource can be downloaded for free at http://www.humancentereddesign.org/adp/profiles/index.php.
www.humancentereddesign.org/projects/access-to-design-professions#features
Local Global
19

Accessibility Terms Glossary
Access Aisle. An accessible pedestrian space adjacent to parking spaces that
allows people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids to safely enter and exit
vehicles.
Accessible Means of Egress. A continuous and unobstructed way of egress
travel from any point in a building or facility that provides an accessible route to an
area of refuge, a horizontal exit, or a public way.
Accessible Route. A continuous, unobstructed path connecting all accessible
elements and spaces within or between buildings or facilities. Interior accessible
routes may include corridors, floors, ramps, elevators, lifts, and clear floor space
at fixtures. Exterior accessible routes may include parking, access aisles, curb cuts,
crosswalks at vehicular ways, walkways, ramps, and lifts.
Area of Rescue Assistance. An area, which has direct access to an exit or an
area adjacent to an exit discharge, where people who are unable to use stairs or
are unable to travel more than 100 feet to a public way may remain temporarily in
safety to await further instructions or assistance during emergency evacuation.
Assembly Area. A building or facility, or portion thereof, used for the purpose
of entertainment, educational or civic gatherings, or similar purposes.Assembly
areas include, but are not limited to, classrooms, lecture halls, courtrooms, public
meeting rooms, public hearing rooms, legislative chambers, motion picture houses,
auditoria, theaters, playhouses, dinner theaters, concert halls, centers for the
performing arts, amphitheaters, arenas, stadiums, grandstands, or convention centers.
Circulation Path. An exterior or interior way of passage provided for pedestrian
travel, including but not limited to, walks, hallways, courtyards, elevators, platform lifts,
ramps, stairways, and landings.
Common Use. Interior or exterior circulation paths, rooms, spaces, or elements that
are not for public use and are made available for the shared use of two or more people.
Cross Slope. The slope that is perpendicular to the running slope and the direction of
travel.
Curb Ramp (or Curb Cut). A short ramp cutting through a curb or built up to it.
Detectable Warning. A standardized surface feature built in or applied to walking
surfaces or other elements to warn of hazards on a circulation path.
Entrance. Any access point to a building or portion of a building or facility used for the
purpose of entering.An entrance includes the approach walk, the vertical access leading to
the entrance platform, the entrance platform itself, vestibule if provided, the entry door or
gate, and the hardware of the entry door or gate.
20

Accessibility Terms Glossary
Knee /Toe Clearance. The knee and toe clearances are required underneath certain
accessible elements (lavatories, sinks, drinking fountains, tables, etc.) in addition to the
clear floor space.The knee clearance should be 27 inches minimum from the floor to the
underside of the lavatory which extends 8 inches minimum measured from the front edge
underneath the lavatory back towards the wall.The toe clearance is the space available
below the knee space and the floor.
Level Surface. Any surface with a slope no more than 1:50 or 2%.
Limited-use/limited-application elevators (LU/LA). A limited use/limited
application elevator is a power passenger elevator in which the use and application is
limited by size, capacity, speed, and rise.These low-rise elevator systems bridge the gap
between conventional commercial elevators and other undesirable lifts used to provide
solutions for architectural barriers.
Marked Crossing. A crosswalk or other identified path intended for pedestrian use in
crossing a vehicular way.
Maneuvering Clearance. A required minimum clear floor area provided on both
sides of doors and gates (elbow room) and other accessible elements.
Persons with Disabilities. Individuals who experience substantial limitations
in one or more major life activities, including but not limited to such functions as
performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and
working. Persons with disabilities shall include but not be limited to those who have
the inability to walk, difficulty walking, hearing disabilities, lack of coordination, reaching
and manipulation disabilities stamina, difficulty interpreting and reacting to sensory
information and extremes in physical size.
Play Area. A portion of a site containing play components designed and constructed
for children.
Public Entrance. An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted
entrance.
Ramp. A walking surface that has a running slope steeper than 1:20.
Running Slope. The slope that is parallel to the direction of travel.
Turning Space. The space required for a wheelchair to make a 180-degree turn is a
clear space of 60 inches diameter or aT-shaped space.
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