July 26th, 1992:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that ensures people with disabilities have the same opportunities and access as everyone else. The ADA was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush
The act consists of guidelines for everything — from how much space there should be in a handicap bathroom stall to how high a light switch can be.
ADA lighting standards make it easier for adults and children who are visually impaired to move around the world, but they also apply to individuals with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs or canes. They take into consideration how much a lighting fixture sticks out from a wall and how far off the ground each light source and switch must be located.
Featured image courtesy of U.S Access Board.
