We are thrilled to invite you to a timely webinar, one day before the 34th anniversary of the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Building on the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the ADA extended civil rights protections to people with disabilities by adding design standards intrinsic to civil rights
Architectural accessibility standards operate within an intertwined personal, medical, cultural, regulatory, anthropometric, ergonomic and public health framework that constitutes the everyday life of a person with a disability. Yet, there exists a rift between an architect’s absolute obligation to know and apply the accessibility standards and the extent to which design students are exposed to the national standards, codes and regulations let alone the rationale for why it matters.
The Accessible Design Accreditation Initiative (ADAI) proposes integrating new academic learning objectives based on the foundational principles of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, the applicable International Code Council model codes, and the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. These mandatory accessibility standards deserve a prominence in academic curricula corresponding to their substantial impact on the largest minority in the US and their role in an equitable society.
The goals of the ADAI are to improve the lives of people with disabilities, the education of design students, the accessibility of built environment, and advancing academic and technical professions.
IHCD’s Executive Director, Valerie Fletcher, will moderate the session with guest as respondents. Time for live questions and answers will follow.
About the Speaker
Richard is the Senior Program Coordinator and a researcher with the University of Missouri (MU) Great Plains ADA Center since 2008. Richard is the creator and Director of the Accessible Design Accreditation Initiative (ADAI), a program focused on elevating architectural educational criteria for Universities across the US.
Richard has a Master of Arts in Architecture from MU. He also has a Master of Education in counseling psychology, specializing in disabilities rehabilitation. He recently concluded a five-year study researching 387 city and county governments across a four-state region, analyzing accessibility, design, and community livability for persons with disabilities.
Richard’s background includes 15 years as a Chief Building Official, garnering two awards and 13 national certifications from the International Code Conference. (ICC) Richard chaired the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Contractor Licensing Committee, which led to the ICBO contractor licensing exams used in all 50 states. Richard served on the Kansas State Board of Architects, the International Code Council Assisted Toileting and Bathing Task Force and the ICC Pandemic Task Force. Richard recently finished his term on the Texas state chapter (TxA) of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness Commission.
He is a published author and consultant in issues of accessible design, the Americans With Disabilities Act, multi-family housing, and more. Richard is a preferred provider of education with the ICC and with the American Institute of Architects for continuing educational credits for licensed architects.
Respondents for the Webcast
Chris Downey, AIA
Architecture for the Blind
Chris Downey, AIA is an architect with over 30 years of professional practice continuing without sight since 2008. Chris specializes in Universal /Inclusive design within projects specifically for the blind and visually impaired including rehabilitation centers, schools, eye clinics and more generally in office environments, cultural centers and transit projects. He has been featured in numerous media stories including “60 Minutes”, speaks internationally, has taught Universal Design for the UCB Department of Architecture and serves on the California commission on disability Access as well as the Board of Directors for the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Bernadette Muncy, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Senior Principal, Architect
SmithGroup
A seasoned architect with over 20 years of experience, she oversees all phases of healthcare projects, from surveying and programming to construction administration and implementation. Bernadette is also a licensed and experienced Arbinger Facilitator and has trained and supported more than half of SmithGroup’s Boston office staff.
Colt Brock, AIAS, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
AIAS President
Colt Brock is the 2023-2024 National President of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and 2024 Student Director for the AIA Board of Directors. Originally from Texas, Colt received his B.S. in Architecture in the Spring of 2022 from Georgia Tech. Upon graduation, Colt served on the AIAS Board of Directors as a Regional Director while living and working in Atlanta before moving to DC to serve as the organizations National President.
Key Details
- Date: Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Online on Zoom Webinar. The link will be shared via Eventbrite in the days leading up to the event. Closed captioning will be provided.
- Type: IHCD Global Webcast
- Price: Free
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to request an accommodation, please email us at info@IHCDesign.org.
This webcast is part of the IHCD Learning, our expanded education commitment. We plan to roll out a mix of webcasts, podcasts, interviews, and case studies this year. We believe that sharing stories and real experience delivers the most impact.