The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets the benchmark for ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities, can access and benefit from the services and facilities that companies provide. Understanding and adhering to ADA compliance not only fulfills a legal obligation but also promotes a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity.

ACI was founded by Henry Hermis and Jack McGinty, whose combined expertise helped shape the firm’s early reputation for technical accuracy and investigative detail. Together, they set out to provide reliable, expert-driven evaluations of construction practices, launching a company built on forensic investigations, code compliance consulting, and a deep understanding of the built environment.

Ensuring your business is accessible to everyone is not just a legal requirement—it’s also a smart business move. Across the United States, accessibility consultants help businesses navigate federal, state, and local requirements for accessible design and construction.

In Texas, this role includes the specialized services of a Registered Accessibility Specialist, who is licensed to conduct the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) plan reviews and inspections required by state law. Whether your project is in Texas or elsewhere in the country, working with an experienced accessibility consultant can help you avoid costly construction changes, reduce the risk of delays, and ensure your facility is welcoming to all individuals, including those with disabilities.

I was certain that I was going to be the next famous architect.

When I was about eight years old, my church in Port Arthur, TX, started construction on a new sanctuary. In the moments before, between and after church, I would sneak into the construction site and explore the ever-evolving space. My father was quite a talker so his after church coffee routine afforded me plenty of time to disappear into the architecture.

When it comes to accessibility in employee work areas, the requirements are often misunderstood. The 2010 ADA Standards (Section 203.9) and Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS 203.9) are clear: each work area must provide an accessible route for entry and exit.

Most accessibility lawsuits do not start with bad design; they begin with minor, fixable oversights. A threshold that is a fraction too high. A ramp that flattens before the landing. A door clearance with just a little too much slope. These details may seem minor during construction, but they are often what trigger ADA lawsuits, Fair Housing complaints, and premises liability claims after occupancy. The common thread is that someone assumed compliance was covered. At ACI Consulting Architects, we help project teams catch these issues before they ever reach that point. Through Accessibility Reviews, Fair Housing Reviews, and Building Code Reviews, our proactive inspections protect timelines, budgets, and reputations.

It is one of those subtle construction adjustments that can turn into a compliance issue down the line. We often see it when a contractor tries to "make up" the difference between sidewalk elevation and finish floor elevation by slightly tilting the concrete pad at an entry. The goal is to create a smooth transition, but in doing so the slope often creeps past the 2% limit, pushing the landing out of compliance. The result can be a perfectly poured but perfectly noncompliant maneuvering area. The fix is simple: verify grades early. It is always easier to form a flat surface than to grind one back into compliance later.

One of the most common—and often overlooked—barriers to accessible design is the encroachment of parked vehicles, particularly overhangs, into pedestrian routes. While a sidewalk may appear compliant based on its poured dimensions, actual usability can be compromised once vehicles are parked, especially head-in.

Edge protection is a critical safety feature in the design and construction of accessible routes. While often overlooked, these features can significantly impact the usability of ramps, landings, and walking surfaces. Their presence or absence plays a crucial role in accessibility. This is especially true where elevation changes on the sides of ramps create potential hazards. This blog examines when edge protection is required under applicable accessibility codes and standards. 

Automatic doors should be located in the most convenient location for the intended users. This could mean that the automatic door is placed off to a side, closer to a ramp for example, rather than centrally located where the majority of people enter.

Ensuring accessibility is more than a legal requirement—it is a fundamental design principle that impacts usability, equity, and compliance. While many in the design and construction industries are familiar with general accessibility requirements, not all work surfaces are treated equally under the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Ensuring accessibility compliance isn’t just about meeting legal requirements—it’s about designing functional, inclusive spaces that work for everyone. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides a framework for accessibility in public and commercial buildings, but true compliance starts long before a facility is open to the public.

Providing accessible parking is a legal mandate and a cornerstone of inclusive building design. When you offer covered parking—whether it’s general, reserved, employee-only, or contract parking—you must provide covered accessible parking as well. This is a mandatory requirement under the 2012 Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and 2010 ADA Standards. Overlooking this requirement can lead to costly alterations, penalties, legal disputes, and customer dissatisfaction. Addressing accessibility early in your planning process is a proactive step toward creating equitable spaces while minimizing future risk.