Excellence in Accessible Design Education (EADE)
Excellence in Accessible Design Education
Show your support for Excellence in Accessible Design Education (EADE) and emphasize the importance of including accessible design principles and their associated codes and standards into the curricula of professional architecture and design programs.
The Accessibility Professionals Association (APA) is a nationwide network of architects, interior designers, engineers, ADA coordinators, building officials, academics, lawyers, and consultants who are experts in accessibility in the built environment. Leveraging the deep industry expertise of its members, APA is spearheading the Excellence in Accessible Design Education (EADE) project to advocate for the adoption of academic accreditation criteria addressing accessible design and related regulatory frameworks.
Mission
EADE aspires to elevate academic and professional education by integrating essential accessible design principles and their associated codes and standards into the curricula of professional design programs. EADE proposes enhanced learning outcomes and competencies within all architecture and interior design curricula to ensure graduates are prepared to create fully accessible environments, fulfilling the profession’s moral and regulatory commitment to serve all people with equality, dignity, and respect.
Goals
EADE proposes that national academic accreditation organizations for architecture and interior design programs adopt the following program objectives into their accreditation requirements:
- Require focused exposure to the regulatory federal documents and model codes governing accessible design and construction and incorporate measurable learning outcomes.
- Motivate academic administration, faculty, and support staff to develop, implement, sustain, and assess effective accessible design curricula across programs.
Now is the time to act!
The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) conducts a broad revision of the accreditation process every 8 years. The current cycle recently began and stakeholder input is being collected now for the next iteration of their accreditation standards. APA will be participating in a NAAB focus group on June 10, 2026.
What can you do?
Show your support for the EADE and emphasize the importance of accessible design by adding your name and/or your organization to the list of supporters by filling out this form.
Contact ExecutiveDirector@APAaccess.org with questions or for more information.
Read more EADE Updates.
Hear What Our Supporters are Saying
"Architects, who are natural problem solvers, should never wind-up in court just because they didn't know what they need to know to comply with the ADA and other applicable accessibility laws and standards."
- Marsha Mazz
"Accessibility within the built environment is a God-given right for those individuals that need basic mobility and usability elements - not special accommodations, but equivalents of daily life activities."
- Fred Cawyer
"The future of successful code compliance related to accessibility as well as the easiest way to minimize risks related to federal accessibility lawsuits is to integrate accessibility into the curricula of accredited architectural, engineering, interior design and landscape design programs at universities in all 50 states."
-Bill Hecker
"When compliance facilities and features of buildings do NOT reflect the approved plans and they are clearly in violation of the standards, who pays? WE DO with dangerous conditions, frailties of construction and preventable injuries. It's enough already!"
-Ruthee Goldkorn
"I am shocked by how many professionals do not understand the importance and weight of the ADA on design."
-Elena Anderson
"Understanding accessibility is as essential as understanding light, sound, structures, and form to create beautiful buildings that function well in today’s society."
-Mark Mazz
"Working as an accessibility consultant for 15 years, I have seen first hand the struggle architects and construction teams have had with incorporating accessible design. Accessibility must be implemented at conception of a project and continue through the substantial completion."
-Angela Shapiro
"The way in which our future architects are currently taught is not only a great disservice to the individuals with disabilities that will use the spaces they design, but also to those future architects, opening them to potential liability and leaving out an important part of their design education."
-Jonathan White
EADE Supporters
Organizations
Access by Design Inc.
Dallas, TX
APAC - APA Certification Program
Austin, TX
Archi+Etc LLC
Lincoln, NE
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
Washington, DC
CIty of Miami Beach
Miami Beach, FL
CMBK Accessibility
Lubbock, TX
Collaborative Access Studio, Inc
Cypress, CA
Contour Collective
Austin, TX
Designing Accessible Communities
Mill Valley, CA
Evan Terry Associates
Birmingham, AL
HALL | AEC PA
Asheville, NC
Hecker Design, LLC
Birmingham, AL
Hintz Consulting LLC
Jackson, MS
International Code Council
Washington, DC
KMA, LLC
Newton, MA
Mark J. Mazz, AIA, LLC
Hyattsville, MD
Marx|Okubo Associates, Inc
San Francisco, CA
Nclusionary
Long Island City, NY
No Barriers Disabled Access Consulting and Advocacy
Peoria, AZ
Rhode Island Governor's Commission on Disabilities
Cranston, RI
Rossetti Enterprises, LLC
Columbus, OH
SC Outdoor Solutions Group. LLC
Greenville, SC
Skulski Consulting
Fishers, IN
Studio Pacifica, Ltd.
Seattle, WA
Tcherneshoff Consulting Inc.
Payne, AL
Terracon
Pharr, TX
theACCESSpartnership
Austin, TX
United Spinal Association
Fort Totten, NY
United States Access Board
Washington, DC
Individuals
Elaine Anderson, RAD, ADAC, APAC-BE
Co-Founder
Contour Collective
Austin, TX
Elena Anderson, APAC-BE
Interior Designer, Project Manager
Watermark Design Group
Metairie, LA
Connie Arnold
Disability Rights Advocate
Elk Grove, CA
Christopher Beck, Assoc. AIA, RAS
CMBK Accessibility
Lubbock, TX
Sabrina Blackman, RA, CASp, APAC-BE
theACCESSpartnership
Long Beach, CA
Gene Boecker, AIA Emeritus, APAC-BE
Code Consultants, Inc.
St. Louis, MO
Karen Braitmayer, FAIA, APAC-BE
Founding and Managing Partner
Studio Pacifica, Ltd.
Seattle, WA
Anastasia Calhoun
Editor, Texas Architect Magazine
Texas Society of Architects
Austin, TX
Fred D. Cawyer, AIA, APAC-BE
ARS, pllc - Accessibility Resource Specialists
Cawyer and Associates Consulting, LLC
Rowlett, TX
Ida Clair, FAIA
CA DGS Division of the State Architect
Sacramento, CA
Corey Credeur, AIA, RAS
ACI Consulting Architects
Houston, TX
Glenn Dea, AIA, APAC-BE, ADACC, CASp
Collaborative Access Studio, Inc.
Cypress, CA
Katie Denis, APAC-BE
Associate Principal
KMA
Newton, MA
Kaylan Dunlap, CASp, APAC-BE, ADAC
Principal, Director of Technical Services
Evan Terry Associates
Birmingham, AL
Nina Edwards
Retired Director of Disability Rights for Inmates
NYC Department of Correction
New York City, NY
BJ Epstein
Accessibility Consultant
Seattle, WA
Andrew Gipe-Lazarou
Assistant Professor
Virginia Tech School of Architecture
Blacksburg, VA
Ruthee Goldkorn
Accessibility Compliance Consultant
Civil Rights and Legislative Advocate
No Barriers Disabled Access Consulting and Advocacy
Peoria, AZ
Kimberly Goss, RAS, APAC-BE
Access by Design Inc.
Dallas, TX
Angela Goudge
Consultant
Bulman Advisory
Adelaide, South Australia
Jack Gryczynski, Architect
JHP Architecture / Urban Design
Greater Dallas Planning Council
Dallas, TX
Dennis Hall
President, CEO
HALL | AEC PA
Asheville, NC
Bill Hecker, AIA, APAC-BE
Accessibility Consultant
Hecker Design, LLC
Birmingham, AL
Christie Henry, COMS, GDMI
Director of Training
Dogs Inc
Palmetto, FL
Gina Hilberry
Vice-Chair A117.1 Committee
Principal Member UCP
Adjunct Wash U School of Arch (ret)
Cohen Hilberry Architects
St. Louis, MO
Mick Hintz, APAC Board of Directors
Hintz Consulting, LLC
Jackson, MS
Mark Hulme, AIA, APAC-BE, LEED AP BD+C
Marx|Okubo Associates Inc
Pasadena, CA
Mark Jackson, APAC-BE
Founder, Principal
nclusionary
Long Island City, NY
Duane Jonlin, FAIA
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
Seattle, WA
Katherine Kennon
Professor
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
Eirene Knott
Director of Code Services
BRR Architecture
Austin, TX
Mark Leder
President
Rossetti Enterprises, LLC
Columbus, OH
Gerard Lee
Vice President
Marx|Okubo Associates Inc
San Francisco, CA
Matt Lescher, APAC-BE
Technical Director
theACCESSpartnership, lp
St. Louis, MO
Danise Levine, RA
Assistant Director
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center)
University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning
Buffalo, NY
Krista Macy
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
Jordana Maisel
Associate Professor, Director
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center)
University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning
Buffalo, NY
Mark J. Mazz, AIA, APAC-BE
Mark J. Mazz, AIA, LLC
Hyattsville, MD
Marsha Mazz, APAC-BE
Director, Accessibility Codes & Standards
United Spinal Association
Fort Totten, NY
Valeria Mejia
ADA Manager
City of Miami Beach
Miami, FL
Timothy Miles
Consultant ADA Access
Orange County Disability Awareness Council
Chapel Hill, NC
Gerald Morgan
Architect/Director of Client Experience
University of Missouri - Campus Facilities
Columbia, MO
Taundra Mortensen, PE, ACTCP
Oregon Department of Transportation
Salem, OR
Angel Ortiz Aisa
Executive Director
Movimiento para el Alcance de Vida Independiente (MAVI)
San Juan, PR
Sachin Dev Pavithran, Ph.D.
Executive Director
United States Access Board
Washington, DC
Ashley Pitts AIA, NCARB, APAC-BE, CASp
Jensen Hughes, Inc.
Westminster, CO
Walter Qualls, AIA, RAS
2026 APA President
Calvert, TX
Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.
Rossetti Enterprises LLC
Columbus, OH
Geoffrey Rossi
Vice President
Marx|Okubo Associates Inc
Seattle, WA
Joshua Rucker
Accessibility Planner
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Robert Saenz
Senior Facilities Professional
Terracon
Pharr, TX
Len Sandler
Clinical Professor of Law Emeritus
University of Iowa College of Law
Iowa City, IA
Angela Satterfield
SC Outdoor Solutions Group, LLC
Greenville, SC
Ben Scavone, RA, NCARB
Dumfries, VA
Leah Schoelles, AIA, NCARB, APAC-BE, ADAC, CASp
Senior Associate, Accessibility Specialist
Marx|Okubo Associates Inc
Damascus, OR
Christopher Schooler
Project Manager, Landscape Architecture
City and County of Denver
Denver, CO
Angela Shapiro, APAC-BE
Technical Director
theACCESSpartnership
Seattle, WA
Richard Skaff
Executive Director
Designing Accessible Communities
Mill Valley, CA
Nancy Skinkle, AIA, LEED AP
Private
Washington, DC
Jennifer Skulski, APAC-BE
Principal
Skulski Consulting
Fishers, IN
Jon Spain
Director of Operations, Accessibility Compliance Services
Evan Terry Associates
Birmingham, AL
Richard Sternadori, Assoc. AIA, M.A. Arch, M.Ed. CBO, ACTCP, CRC
Retired, University of Missouri
Las Cruces, NM
Carol Ann Taylor
Marx|Okubo Associates Inc
Huntington Beach, CA
Regina Trantham
Trantham Construction Services Inc.
Weaverville, NC
James V Vitale, AIA, CASp 007
Architect, SME
La Verne, CA
Jonathan White, APAC-BE
Senior Research Support Specialist
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center)
University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning
Buffalo, NY
Nicole White
Senior Research Support Specialist / Registered Architect
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center)
University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning
Buffalo, NY
Dave Wietbrock
Director of Design
Kittle Property Group
Indianapolis, IN
Denyse Wilhelm
ADA Program Manager/ certified ADA Coordinator
Rhode Island Governor's Commission on Disabilities
Cranston, RI
Courtney Wladyka, Architect
Director of Sustainability and Resilience
Marx|Okubo Associates Inc
Long Beach, CA
Laurie Yerby
Tcherneshoff Consulting Inc.
Payne, AL