The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” funds a wide array of projects and programs to jump start the economy and create jobs. The $787 billion measure provides funding for infrastructure, transportation, energy efficiency, education, health care, and aid to cities and states.
It is important that accessibility for people with disabilities is integrated into stimulus projects as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws. The ADA treats accessibility as a civil right and applies to cities and states and to the private sector. In addition, laws such as the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act cover accessibility in the federal sector and also apply to the recipients of federal funds.
Standards and guidelines issued under these laws govern access to buildings, transportation, streetscapes, outdoor sites, and information technology. They include ADA standards for facilities and transportation vehicles, ABA facility standards, and standards for electronic and information technology in the federal sector covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The U.S. Access Board, a federal agency, leads the development and upkeep of these standards and guidelines and provides technical assistance and training on them to the public. The Board is available to provide further guidance on applying the requirements to Recovery Act projects so that accessibility is properly achieved. The Board also offers supplementary resources on accessible design.
For further information, please visit the Access Board’s website at www.access-board.gov/recovery or contact:
U.S. Access Board
(800) 872-2253 (voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY)
ta@access-board.gov (technical assistance)
training@access-board.gov (training)
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