The 2010 Standards For Accessible Design : Harmonizing ADA Standards With State And Local Building Codes

The Department of Justice published revised regulations for Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in the Federal Register on Sept. 15, 2010, which include the 2010 ADA standards for accessible design.¹ The new regulations include at Appendix A, the revised ADA accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities (ADAAG).²

By way of background, Title III applies to public accommodations, commercial facilities, and private entities offering certain types of examinations and courses.³ Public accommodations are classified in 12 categories, and include restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, stadiums, lecture halls and other places of public gathering, grocery stores, gas stations, parks, zoos, schools, doctor's offices, and private schools.⁴ Title III also applies to commercial facilities such as factories and office buildings.⁵