A look back at the early days of ADA.

SOMETIMES, THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE now is to look back at where we've been. And when it comes to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), there has been an 11-year trail of enlightenment, education and, yes, sometimes emotion.

The gradual acceptance and implementation of ADA since its compliance dead-line (January 26, 1992) have sometimes overshadowed the civil rights legislation's true impact. ADA did not cause the flood of change that some predicted. Rather, like water flowing over a rock, it slowly but surely altered the face of the architectural hardware industry.

The August 1992 issue of Doors and Hardware featured four stories on the expected effects of ADA. There were several common threads in the articles, namely the overall awareness of ADA, interpreting the act, the pace of change, overall awareness, the need for education, and acceptance.

Has reality matched 1992's expectations? Were concerns founded? Did ADA create more opportunities than headaches, or vice versa? Let's review.

Overall Awareness

The 1992 articles indicated that low awareness of ADA was commonplace. As one automatic door distributor put it, "Many businesses are even unaware of the existence of the law. Those who do know about the law don't understand its vague wording. So they're doing nothing."

At the time, that statement probably reflected the opinion of most people in the industry. Some had heard of it. Few understood it. Most ignored it. And with the economy emerging out of a tough recession, many were simply focused on core business needs.

Since then, awareness of ADA increased quickly in the architectural hardware industry, caused partly by a parade of articles in industry magazines, seminars and improved code education.

Awareness of ADA among the general public has also steadily improved since 1990. It's safe to say that most people today can identify the barrier-free/accessibility symbol: the white, outlined wheelchair on a royal blue background. And most people understand what it stands for. In many ways, the adoption of barrier-free construction has shed light on the need for accessibility. We can all appreciate that everyone is entitled equal access to buildings and, ultimately, quality of life.

Interpretation

Initially, ADA implementation was clouded by confusion. As one Doors and Hardware author wrote, "its ambiguity is causing considerable misunderstanding- creating a situation ripe for overreaction.. .The fact is, no one really knows all the answers, because most definitions are imprecise. No regulatory group has been created, and no certification source exists."

Part of the problem stemmed from ADA being a civil rights law. Its intent needed to be translated into building codes. Afterward, these codes would be subject to the scrutiny of the courts, which would determine whether or not they met the barrier-free access standards set by the law.

Over the course of the last decade, the architectural hardware industry has seen regional and local building codes become more specific regarding barrier-free access. Furthermore, many codes have been altered or strengthened through the legal process. In addition, many manufacturers took it upon themselves to explain the guidelines to their customers, which simplified understanding.

Consistency of interpretation occasionally remains a nagging problem, however. Like many codes, regulation and enforcement will continue to vary from locality to locality.

Pace of Change

A subheading for one of the 1992 articles said it all: "Changes will be slow." The piece continued: "We in the door hardware industry expected the ADA to create extensive new markets for us who have products in place to serve the needs of the disabled. But so far, widespread compliance has been extremely slow."

In general, the market was waiting to see how ADA would pan out. Would it hold up in court? Would regional and local building codes be rigid or flexible in their interpretation of its intent? Would the threat of a lawsuit be enough to bring about compliance?

Time was both friend and foe. Many building owners were concerned that ADA compliance would cost them a small fortune. Although the visibility of ADA was immediate, not everyone raced out to retrofit or repair non-conforming elements on existing buildings. Technically, unless an element posed an accessibility problem for an individual, there was no immediate need to change it.

One hurdle in the race to change came on January 26, 1993, when all newly built facilities needed to be barrier-free accessible. When barrier-free access was integrated into the design from the onset, the industry realized that ADA had little effect on the price or performance of a building's systems. (Later studies by the U.S. Department of Justice showed the incremental impact to be less than 1 percent of construction costs.) With this mental obstacle removed, building owners started to accept ADA knowing that it would not inflict undue financial burden. At the same time, many began seeing it as an opportunity to promote their businesses to everyone.

The gradual change also afforded manufacturers time to develop and introduce new products that helped buildings meet the new requirements. Adjustable-spring power became standard in most door closers. Low-energy operators were promoted as an alternative. Lever handles replaced knobs and thumbpieces. Less-bottom-rod exit devices became more prevalent to reduce catch hazards. And aftermarket products (signage, kickplates, hardware covers, etc.) were ordered more frequently. In many cases, the changeover to barrier-free hardware involved minor product adjustments or the replacement of outdated products with existing ones. Suitable options were readily available.

The slow pace of change was a benefit to most parties. Fast, urgent change would have angered building owners and confused hardware professionals. It allowed the industry to adapt gradually to ADA rather than forcing the industry into a reactionary mode. The end benefits--widespread accessibility, barrier-free buildings and improved products--were worth the walt.

Acceptance

Showing impressive foresight, articles in the August 1992 Doors and Hardware said that ADA "is good business and is advantageous to the business owner, the disabled community and the public in general."

Of course, pockets of resistance were inevitable. Some worried that costs related to ADA would put them out of business. They envisioned the need to update all building systems--including hardware--in one massive retrofitting project that would have depleted budgets already hit by the early '90s recession.

In the end, ADA did not bring the gloom and doom that naysayers predicted. It's safe to say that no one was put out of business as a result of ADA. Sure, money was spent on compliance, but most building owners approached the situation rationally. Progressive owners had already begun to migrate toward barrier-free standards. ADA fueled their acceptance and brought the rest of the building industry on board.

Need for Education

Several authors in the 1992 issue noted that education was critical for acceptance and understanding of ADA. One story called upon local, state and federal governments to fund educational sessions, in some ways they did, producing booklets and offering tax credits to offset the cost of compliance.

However, hardware distributors, manufacturers and trade associations shouldered most of the educational responsibility. Enterprising distributors took it upon themselves to become regional experts on building codes and compliance. They provided invaluable assistance, translating the evolving building codes into specifications. Manufacturers hosted seminars to inform their customers about ADA requirements and demonstrate which of their products could help deliver barrier-free access. Trade and professional associations--like DHI, GSI and BOMA--held numerous training sessions to get the industry up to speed.

Nonetheless, the educational mission is not done. New people in our industry need the proper ADA training to complement their technical instruction. Affiliated professions--such as facility management, locksmithing and security--must understand how ADA influences hardware selection and installation. Finally, building owners require constant reminders as their attention is divided among many issues.

Knowledgeable independent distributors can play a key role in educating those outside the door hardware industry. They can become valued consultants and play a pivotal role in the application of ADA.

Overall, ADA effected change in a positive way. Initial concerns and misunderstandings have been overcome. Now; there is little, if any, residual negativity. We can only hope that the intent of the ADA--civil rights protection for the estimated 50 million Americans with disabilities--becomes as ingrained in our culture as it has in our building codes. It's fair to say that most of the building industry has adopted accessibility as an inalienable right. After all, one's ability to push open a door, grasp a knob or walk up a flight of stairs should never interfere with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.