Fair Housing Act Design Manual (Revised April 1998, 130 p.)
First published in 1996, the Fair Housing Act Design
Manual: A Manual to Assist Designers and Builders in Meeting
the Accessibility Requirements of The Fair Housing Act
provides clear and helpful guidance about ways to design and
construct housing which complies with the Fair Housing Act.
The manual explains the accessibility requirements of the
Act, which must be incorporated into the design and construction
of multifamily housing covered by the Act. A clear statement
of HUD's interpretation of the accessibility requirements
of the Act is included so that readers may know what actions
will provide them with a "safe harbor." Recommendations
are made which, although not binding, meet the Department's
obligation to provide technical assistance on alternative
accessibility approaches that are, at least minimally, in
compliance with the Act. The latter information allows housing
providers to choose among alternatives and provides persons
with disabilities with information on accessible design approaches.
In the previous edition, differences existed between the Act's accessibility requirements and the non-binding or recommended guidance provided by the manual. The revised manual clarifies what are requirements under the Act and what are HUD's technical assistance recommendations. The portions describing the requirements are clearly differentiated from the technical assistance recommendations.
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