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You are here: Home » Resources » Articles » A History of Accessibility Regulations

January 12, 2012

A History of Accessibility Regulations

By Partner ESI

Sixty Years Ago, There Were No Laws Governing Accessibility in The U.S. – Today There Are Several

“According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2005, there were 25,780,576 physically handicapped people in the United States.  Physically handicapped is defined, in this survey, as an individual who has substantial limitations for the ability to walk, climb stairs, reach, lift or carry due to a physical condition.” – Answers.com

Six years ago, there were no accessibility laws in the United States. Disabled people were categorized as “sick” and routinely hospitalized in convalescent homes. There was no social policy for the disabled…

While the 1964 Civil Rights Act did not address accessibility, it became the model for future legislation. Over the years, there have been changes expanding the requirements for accessibility from Federal facilities to public facilities and commercial accommodations.

Continue reading the GlobeSt blog here.

About the Authors

Partner ESI

Partner ESI

Founded in 2007, Partner Engineering and Science Inc., is the leading provider of engineering, environmental, energy, and construction consulting for the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. Touching 1 in 5 CRE transactions in the U.S., Partner is widely recognized as the largest and best provider of third-party physical due diligence reports, including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Property Condition Assessments, Seismic Risk Assessments, Zoning Reports, ALTA Land Title Surveys, and Construction Risk Management. Partner’s connectedness to the CRE market gives it an unparalleled view into CRE trends and risk management insights. Partner also provides a full suite of consulting services to support the entire real estate lifecycle, including: Geotechnical Consulting; Building Systems Consulting; Capital Management and Project Implementation Support; Environmental Health & Safety Consulting; Energy, Sustainability & Resilience Consulting; and Site Civil Engineering. With a responsive approach scaled for speed and agility, Partner helps clients manage risk, make smart investments, optimize asset performance, and win at their real estate investment strategies. Based in Torrance, Calif., Partner has over 1,400 employees in 40 offices around the globe.

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