Plan for Access in the Initial Design Stages!
Following this simple rule can save a great deal of expense and headache. If accessibility is included from the beginning, seeking additional funds will not be necessary. There is often a misconception that accessibility increases costs. When included in the initial design, this is generally not true. Expenditures can, however, be increased when accessibility is not considered during design stages and pre-existing plans have to be modified to comply with the law. It is much more cost effective to pay for one set of plans that are in compliance rather than having to go back and make changes to include the technical specifications for accessibility. According to the Final Regulatory Impact Analysis for Final ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities from the U.S. Access Board, designing buildings for accessibility from the beginning adds less than 1% to the total cost of construction for a new facility.
blog comments powered by Disqus