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Scope & Range of Services
UNIVERSAL DESIGNERS & CONSULTANTS
Universal Designers & Consultants, Inc. (UD&C) has provided
unsurpassed accessibility consulting services since 1991.
JJohn P. S. Salmen, AIA and the UD&C technical team offer the advantage of disciplined training in the commercial business world and in-depth knowledge and creativity in design and accessibility. Whether it be the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act or state regulations, our guidance takes business needs into consideration and results in savings. Our direct participation in the code development process, our association with federal and state agencies, and our extensive experience make us the premier architectural consulting firm for addressing accessibility concerns.
SERVICES
UD&C specializes in assisting clients in complying with the ADA, Fair Housing Act, and state or local accessibility regulations. Our services and products include:
Expert Witness
Facility surveys of existing properties for accessibility compliance
Reviewing design and construction documents
Telephone, fax and email consultation
Selecting accessible products
Training in compliance requirements and sensitivity
Developing design guidelines
Preparing conceptual schematic and design development documents
Publishing Universal Design Newsletter
EXPERT WITNESS & CONSULTANT
UD&C serves both private and public entity plaintiffs and defendants
by reviewing facilities and documents; representation at meetings and negotiations; preparation
of reports; depositions, courtroom observations, and testimony; and other
similar activities. Our opinions are presented in a clear straight forward
manner which allows attorneys to quickly ascertain if we can suitably support
the positions of their clients.
UD&C has represented the American Hotel & Motel Association on the
ANSI A117.1 accessibility standard committee and the American Institute
of Architects on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) Federal Advisory Committee.
Our direct involvement in the regulatory developmentreview process
provides our clients with unique insights for understanding the intent
of accessibility standards and enables us to provide the widest possible
range of compliance recommendations.
SURVEYS
UD&C ADA Compliance surveys typically involve a walk-through with
a person such as a chief engineer or facility manager who is knowledgeable
about the facility and its operations. If available, plans of the facility
are reviewed by UD&C before or at the time of the walk through. When
time is available following the completion of the walk-through, UD&C
briefs designated on site staff regarding the findings and expectations
for the content of the Facility Survey Report.
Facility Survey Reports prepared by UD&C may include:
Executive Summary, with a brief description of the application
of the ADA to the facility type, existing conditions and potential accessibility
enhancement actions.
Detailed Survey Report with detailed descriptions of existing
condition, categorizations and prioritization of potential actions, cost
estimates, photographs, accessibilty product information, and selected
portions of the sections from applicable accesssibility standards.
SELF-SURVEY SYSTEM
UD&C has developed software systems for generating reports from
self-surveys conducted by a client's in-house staff. These systems address
dimensional tolerances and alternative solutions, can interface with computerized
facility management systems, and can be applied to various building types.
When accompanied by UD&C prepared self-survey forms and staff training,
this system has proven to be extremely cost effective for clients with
large numbers of similar type facilities.
CONTACT: JOHN SALMEN or JIM
DILUIGI |