Registered Accessibility Specialist
Encyclopedia
A Registered Accessibility Specialist is a professional licensed with a state
of the United States
to determine if a part of the built environment (building
, park
, sidewalk
, parking lot
) is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and state laws. An RAS reviews construction documents to determine accessible design and inspects finished buildings to verify accessible construction.
Currently, Texas
contains the most stringent accessibility laws. The Texas Accessibility Standards go above and beyond (in some cases) the expectations of the ADA. The TDLR (Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation), for example, requires that all commercial construction projects in excess of US$50,000 submit to an RAS for verification of compliance.
Accessibility specialists are a part of a growing industry in the United States. It is anticipated that all 50 states will soon require building owners/architects to submit for accessibility verification.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to determine if a part of the built environment (building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
, park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
, sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
, parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
) is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and state laws. An RAS reviews construction documents to determine accessible design and inspects finished buildings to verify accessible construction.
Currently, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
contains the most stringent accessibility laws. The Texas Accessibility Standards go above and beyond (in some cases) the expectations of the ADA. The TDLR (Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation), for example, requires that all commercial construction projects in excess of US$50,000 submit to an RAS for verification of compliance.
Accessibility specialists are a part of a growing industry in the United States. It is anticipated that all 50 states will soon require building owners/architects to submit for accessibility verification.
External links
- http://www.tsbbe.state.tx.us
- http://www.governor.state.tx.us/disabilities
- http://www.elogictech.com/architecture_products_rastik.htm