Tools of the Trade: Accessibility Review Platforms
hosted by APA and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of APA
Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 12:00 - 2:00 PM CT
APAC-BE #124 2 CEU, ICC #41533 .20 CEU, AIA pending, ACTCP 2 elective credits

Join Joshua Kuphal and Leah Schoelles for this two-hour course and learn about two software tools useful for accessibility specialists. The presentation will familiarize attendees with the unique characteristics of BlueBeam Revu and the practical application for the review of drawings as a part of providing accessibility consulting services. The course will also explore the features of Autodesk Construction Cloud’s (ACC) software called Build and its potential for recording site observations and issuing field reports.

This live course will be on the Zoom platform. 

APA Rocky Mountain Chapter Member   $50
APA Member  $60
Non-member $85

Register now

Chapter meetings and roundtables/tech talks are held quarterly

Chapter membership gets you these membership benefits, with more to come:

• Network with others in your region
• Brainstorm with other professionals in virtual roundtables
• Connect with others during virtual or in-person meet-ups every quarter 
• Explore internships and mentorships through chapter outreach
• Discuss accessibility issues pertinent to the Rocky Mountain and West Coast states
• Exchange ideas with other accessibility professionals 
• Discuss codes and regulations unique to your region
• Make your voice heard on legislative issues
• Learn about the latest from the legislature
• Offer a unified voice for the industry to the legislature
• Earn Continuing Education credit through in-person trainings close to you
• Drive to trainings instead of fly
• Enjoy reduced fees for Continuing Education trainings
• Use your chapter membership to get discounted rates on trainings and conferences

Join APA

November 15, 2023 Virtual Training
Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 1:00 - 2:00 pm CT (12:00 - 1:00 pm MT)

"Emergency Disaster Preparedness Management"
Presented by Laney Davidson

Local entities and communities are increasingly planning emergency management and preparedness to handle disasters for the whole community. Emergencies and disasters can be particularly concerning for persons with access and functional needs. Successful outcomes will depend on the inclusiveness of the plans and preparations before the disaster.

This session will focus on key emergency management planning and preparedness strategies and approaches for including people with access and functional needs. The presentation will provide primarily the local level of government’s perspective, emergency manager’s need to interact with their ADA Coordinator, and their interactions with the state and federal level agencies.
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September 27, 2023 Virtual Training
Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 1:00 - 2:30 pm CT (12:00 - 1:30 pm MT)

"Top 10 Accessibility Issues in Multifamily Housing Projects"
Presented by Bill Hecker

Bill Hecker will present 10 case studies of challenging accessibility issues related to plan reviews and project inspections. There will be one hour of instruction and 30 minutes of Q&A.

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June 12, 2023 Virtual Training

Monday, June 12, 2023, 1:00 CT, noon MT
"[Things] People to Consider in Multimodal Transportation Projects"

While nominally this course is about the accessibility of pedestrian facilities, fundamentally, we will discuss the prioritization of pedestrian safety above all else. The design of pedestrian/multimodal transportation corridors must anticipate the potential conflict of diverse user groups with different needs and expectations. Safety and equitable use of public assets is paramount. Transit-oriented development must consider environmental justice and inclusion of all categories of transportation users, from the transit-dependent to cyclists to the economically-disadvantaged, to people of all abilities. Projects must evaluate the needs of all users, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the environmental and economic impacts on the surrounding community from the earliest conceptual designs.

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September 20, 2022 Virtual Training 

Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 2:00 PM Mountain, 3:00 pm Central

"Blind spot acoustics: Inclusive architectural soundscape design"

Chris Downey, AIA, and Joshua Cushner will help prepare participants be better prepared to design delightful and functional ADA-compliant architectural acoustic environments.

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June 1, 2022 Virtual Training

Wednesday, 12:00-1:30 Mountain, 1:00-2:30 Central

"New Topics in the 2017 A117.1 Accessibility Standard," presented by Kim Paarlberg, ICC

Kim Paarlberg from ICC will present on new added topics not addressed in the accessibility standards before.

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April 6, 2022 Virtual Training

Wednesday, 1:00-2:30 CST

"Why Does Website Accessibility Apply to Me?," presented by Geoff Ames, Meeting the Challenge, Inc., Colorado Springs, Colorado

The APA Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC) will offer Lunch and Learn accessibility trainings via webinar in 2022. Potential topics include website accessibility, architecture and effective communication, legislative initiatives to improve access for people with disabilities, accessible pedestrian facilities (PROWAG), and accessibility in senior living facilities. Presentations will be given by experienced and knowledgeable trainers among RMC’s founding members, as well as guest speakers. Trainings will be offered for a modest fee, and completion certificates will be available for attendees to self-report continuing education units to various organizations.

2023

AUGUST: APAC-BE Certification Exam: Prep, application, and process 

JULY: EV charging stations: Far-reaching implications and impacts 

MAY: Strange things I've seen on vacation: Alternative approaches to accessibility

APRIL: Tips and tricks of social media

MARCH: "Meet and Greet" and open discussion of different perspectives

FEBRUARY: Effective communication under the ADA

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2022 

OCTOBER: Digital wayfinding

SEPTEMBER: A conversation on ODA and ABA

AUGUST: Resources for ADA Coordinators

JULY: Gray areas of the Fair Housing Act design manual (and the 10,000 safe harbors for compliance with FHA)

Members meet the requirements of numerous organizations by attending APA Training. APA is a CE/LU provider for Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), American Institute of Architects (AIA), International Code Council (ICC), and the ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program (ACTCP).



The Accessibility Professionals Association members are experts on complying with the Americans with Disability Act and codes within various states. We also assist in educating our members in other related accessibility codes, such as the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and other building accessibility Codes and Standards, enabling them to guide their clients towards compliance, which can be a complex and challenging process. 



Our professional members are licensed by various agencies and have a broad knowledge of the laws, codes, and standards that promote accessibility in the built environment. Whether dealing with a public building or privately owned structure, a facility leased or occupied by government agencies, a place of public accommodation, or a commercial facility for individuals with disabilities, our APA members are engaged in a wide range of accessibility consulting, including assisting building owners, architects, contractors, building officials, and consumers in assuring an accessible built environment.

• Plan reviews to verify your plans are designed complying with applicable federal, state, and/or local accessibility codes before construction begins.
• Site inspections to verify your facility meets applicable accessibility requirements during and after the completion of construction.
• Building and site assessments to identify items or areas of non-compliance in existing structures.
• Accessibility seminars to educate and answer questions on accessibility standards, and provide insight into issues facing those within the building and construction industries.
• Consultation in the development of strategies for ongoing proactive architectural barrier removal, thereby minimizing owner’s liability.
• Design services provided at any point in the design or construction process to assist in the preparation of accessibility solutions for drawings, details, and specifications.
• Expert testimony including dispute resolution for mediation and arbitration.
• Governmental policy
• Serve as a resource in establishing policy.
• Provide a “review team” to address constituent concerns regarding state and federal laws related to disability.
• Disseminate necessary information regarding disability-related policies and laws through our emails and/or mailings to appropriate representatives of the business community as well as the disability community.

• Support membership needs and organizational growth
• Enhance professional development 
• Actively promote the services provided by our members 
• Hold our members to a high standard of professionalism and ethics 
• Facilitate consistency in the application of accessibility regulations 
• Present a unified voice in our industry
• Actively participate in the development, interpretation, and adoption of accessibility regulations
• Promote the value of certified accessibility specialists and consultants