What is meant by an “accessible” building or route?
The term “accessible” means that the public or common use areas of a building can be approached, entered, and used by individuals with physical disabilities. These attributes would be considered an accessible route, which means a continuous unobstructed path connecting accessible elements and spaces in a building or within a site that can be negotiated by a person with a severe disability using a wheelchair, and that is also safe for and usable by people with other disabilities. Interior accessible routes may include corridors, floors, ramps, elevators and lifts. Exterior accessible routes may include parking access aisles, curb ramps, walks, ramps and lifts. Accessibility guidelines will cover hallway width, doorways, thresholds, ramp dimensions, and height/reach ranges for elevators. Specific information can be found in the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines.
