Sign of the Times  

ADA compliance as an element of design for commercial spaces

Sponsored by Inpro | By Erika Fredrickson

This course is part of the ADA Academy

There is no audio associated with this presentation.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lays out clear guidelines regarding architectural design. That includes proper signage in commercial and public spaces and minimum dimensions and configurations of spaces, such as bathroom and shower designs. This presentation explores how signage and bathroom, and shower systems play a role in ADA compliance in a variety of applications from office spaces to hotels, restaurants to hospitals, college dorm rooms to assisted living centers, and other places where a variety of people convene and live. It offers background on ADA law and the legal protection of individuals with disabilities, as well as provides an overall view of how these design elements not only protect people with disabilities but also create the experience possible for each person who enters the building.

Sign of the Times

Photo courtesy of Inpro

 

Originally published in Architectural Record

Originally published in April 2022

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
  1. Discuss the role signage plays in ADA compliance toward the better well-being of people with disabilities.
  2. Describe the role shower and bathroom design plays in ADA compliance for the health and safety of people with disabilities.
  3. Explain the influence and impact of ADA on design that stems from a goal of healthier happier spaces.
  4. List ways in which manufacturers have responded to the aesthetic goals of designers looking to integrate high-performance ADA into their projects.