Accessibility Consulting Services for Housing Overview It is our continuing experience that lawsuits are being filed against owners of multifamily housing developments who believe that their facilities are fully compliant with the requirements of both the Fair Housing Act and the ADA. We recommend a proactive approach. Background The accessibility requirements of federal fair housing law are notably different from those of the ADA, and the "safe harbors" for compliance differ from one another. In addition, some portions of a housing project may be required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act while other portions may not. It is not unusual, therefore, for owners and managers of housing facilities to wonder whether or not their facilities are in compliance with the law. Step One We perform an access survey of a multifamily housing development, and prepare a report that identifies latent barriers to access, explains the pertinent points of law and recommends alternate methods of achieving compliance. (Contact) Step Two Your architect and facility management will use our access survey report as the basis of an access compliance plan. An effective plan will include design requirements, budget costs, priorities and a timetable. We remain on-call to your staff during this process. Some barriers can be eliminated immediately and at no cost; others may require a simple change in policy. Significant barriers can trigger major alterations. Having a compliance plan in place shows good-faith, and the elimination of barriers reduces exposure. Portions of housing projects may be subject to Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Defense expert in an ADA lawsuit We provide expert witness services for the owners of multifamily housing sued under federal civil rights law with regard to accessibility. We prepare an access survey report for the defense, addressing each allegation. We work with owners and their attorneys to keep the matter in a settlement conference instead of a courtroom. We stand by the defendant through the settlement process, and prepare rebuttal to frivolous and unfounded demands. We identify the minimum requirements of enforceable federal statute, and recommend the least costly methods of achieving compliance. We recommend settlement language that will help the defendant to maximize the tax deduction and tax credit that are available for removal of barriers to access. Accessibility review of architectural plans For a new multifamily housing development or for renovations to an existing one, we provide plan review services for your architects, to ensure that the finished facility will be fully compliant with the requirements of state and federal accessibility law. It is easier to identify problems early and on paper, rather than tear out non-compliant construction in the field. We also provide site inspections at key points during construction, to verify that things are being built as designed. A complete project list is provided in the Curriculum Vitae. Contact