11-30-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION The ADA was enacted into law in 1990. It was passed, in part, to enable people with impairments to utilize all public facilities including those owned and operated by local government and those privately owned but open to the public. The Department of Justice published revised regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010. The revision clarified issues that arose over the previous 20 years and included new accessible design standards. It went into effect in March 2011. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm Although as a federal civil rights law the ADA guarantees access, some buildings, sites, and programs are not in compliance with the law. Sometimes, this is a matter of oversight. At other times, it is a lack of understanding of what the encompassing law requires. (The ADA and City Governments: Common Problems; U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, updated 24 February 2020. - https://www.ada.gov/comprob.htm) Regulations in the Act are extensive and specific (e.g., 60 inches must be allowed for turning space for a wheelchair; van parking spaces must be 132 inches wide unless there is an access aisle). However, reasonable modifications may occur (e.g., if someone with a mobility impairment cannot access a polling site independently, the door may be propped open, or a person could monitor the door to let voters in). The photo below shows an improper curb ramp which hampers access and may be dangerous for persons in wheelchairs or scooters. This is at a pathway leading to a park in Roseville. The device in the photo can measure rise over a 12-inch length. This is a problem that we found in many situations, including polling places and parks.