Douglas Anderson Elected Chair of the Access Board March 23, 2009

	Douglas Anderson

Douglas Anderson, Associate AIA, of Wheaton, Illinois, was elected Chair of the Access Board at a meeting of the Board on March 18. Anderson was first appointed to the Board by President Bush in 2003 and was reappointed to a second term in 2007. He is a Partner at LCM Architects in Chicago who assists both public and private entities in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Anderson advises clients, including Fortune 500 companies, on meeting the design requirements of the ADA and the Fair Housing Act.

"It is a privilege and honor to be asked to serve as Chair of the Board," Anderson noted in remarks to the Board. He called attention to the opportunities and challenges before the Board in leading the development, advancement and implementation of accessibility requirements. "I am confident that the Board will draw upon its considerable strengths to meet its strategic goals and to continue to serve as a leading resource on accessible design."

Anderson has been active in the work of the ADA since 1992, not long after most of its provisions became effective. Before joining LCM Architects, he worked at the Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which is part of a national network of federally funded entities that provide guidance and training on the ADA.

The Board elected as its Vice Chair Loretta King who represents the U.S. Department of Justice on the Board as the Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Board officers serve for a term of one year. The Board's 25 members include members of the public appointed by the President and representatives from Federal departments.