Links to Select Organizations and Publications

The Access Board

“The Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards” (from their website)

ADA Accessibility Standards

Accessibility standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) apply to places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities in new construction, alterations, and additions. The ADA Standards are based on minimum guidelines set by the Access Board.  The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) issue the ADA Standards. The standards are available as a website (click here) or as a pdf (click here).  There is also a guide to the ADA accessibility standards (click here).

AER Online

The latest information on the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Beneficial Designs

Beneficial Designs develops assistive and adaptive technology, performs rehabilitation research, contract design, legal consultation, standards development, and serves as a rehabilitation information resource.

The Center for Universal Design

A national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes universal design in housing, public and commercial facilities, and related products. (currently not active due to funding challenges).

ITE Electronic Toolbox

Documents for Making Intersections More Accessible for Pedestrians Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Standards for the application and installation of traffic signals, signs and pavement markings that regulate, warn, and guide the vehicle and pedestrian users of the public right of way.

Planning and Funding Accessible Pedestrian Facilities

ITE’s page of potential funding sources for making an intersection accessible.

Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only Document 117A: Accessible Pedestrian Signals: A Guide to Best Practice is designed to serve as a companion resource document to a one-day training course on accessible pedestrian signals. For information on the training program, contact S.A. Parker of TRB at SAParker@nas.edu. An appendix to Web-Only Document 117A includes an accessible pedestrian signals intersection prioritization tool and instructions on how to use the tool. Details on the research used to develop the training course and tool was published as NCHRP Web-Only Document 117B (link).

Addressing Barriers to Blind Pedestrians at Signalized Intersections

An ITE Journal article presents the results of a survey of Orientation and Mobility Specialists regarding the problems students with visual impairments experience at signalized intersections.

Building a True Community

This report is a recommendation for a new set of Federal guidelines (to be implemented as standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act) that define the details necessary to make the streetscapes in public rights-of-way accessible to all users.

Detectable Warnings: Synthesis of U.S. and International Practices

This synthesis summarizes the state-of-the-art regarding the design, installation and effectiveness of detectable warning surfaces used in the U.S. and abroad.

Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access Part I of II: Review of Existing Guidelines and Practices

This project is an extensive literature review in which existing guidelines and recommendations for developing sidewalks and trails were compiled and analyzed.

Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access Part II of II: Best Practices Design Guide

This document provides recommendations on how to design sidewalks, street crossings, intersections, shared use paths, and recreational pedestrian trails. (Out of print, available online only)

Determining Recommended Language for Speech Messages used by Accessible Pedestrian Signals

The objective of the research in this report was to develop recommendations for the structure and content of walk messages and pushbutton messages for directly audible APSs.

FHWA Memo on ADAAG Detectable Warnings (Truncated Domes)

The FHWA memo addresses a number of questions raised by people from various agencies concerning the use of detectable warnings, specifically truncated domes, when constructing or altering curb ramps.

Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Final Report

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only Document 117B: Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals (Final Report) provides details on research used to develop a one-day training course on accessible pedestrian signals (APS) and to produce an APS intersection prioritization tool. For additional information on the training program, contact S.A. Parker of TRB atSAParker@nas.edu. A companion resource document on the training course on APS and the intersection prioritization tool was produced as NCHRP Web-Only Document 117A.

Interfacing Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) with Traffic Signal Control Equipment

The primary objective of this research was to provide detailed accessible pedestrian signal (APS) product information specifically focused on the interfacing of APS devices and traffic signal controllers. Information on the various traffic signal controllers used today is also provided. The information is intended for traffic engineers, traffic signal technicians, and others who are implementing APS technologies.

(Proposed) Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines

Under the ADA, the Access Board has developed and continues to maintain design guidelines for accessible buildings and facilities known as the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). ADAAG covers a wide variety of facilities and establishes minimum requirements for new construction and alterations.

PowerPoint Presentations:

Accessible Pedestrian Signal Features – New Possibilities for Access in the US

Detectable Warnings