Registered Accessibility Specialist

A Registered Accessibility Specialist is a professional licensed with a state of the United States to determine if a part of the built environment (building, park, sidewalk, parking lot) is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act and state laws. An RAS reviews construction documents to determine accessible design and inspects finished buildings to verify accessible construction.

Currently, Texas contains the most stringent accessibility laws. The Texas Accessibility Standards go above and beyond (in some cases) the expectations of the ADA. The TDLR (Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation), for example, requires that all commercial construction projects in excess of US$50,000 submit to an RAS for verification of compliance.

Accessibility specialists are a part of a growing industry in the United States. It is anticipated that all 50 states will soon require building owners/architects to submit for accessibility verification.

External links