Texas Registered Accessibility Specialists Association

Mission Statement

To enhance accessibility in the built environment throughout Texas.
To raise the level of service provided by our members by presenting a unified voice.
To facilitate consistency in the application of the Standards among Registered Accessibility Specialists.
To promote the services of our members to the building and design industry.
To hold our membership to a high standard of ethics in business.

TRASA ANNUAL MEETING - January 29th - 30th, 2009

Mark your calendar for the TRASA Annual Conference in Round Rock, TX. This year’s conference will highlight a variety of subjects critical to the success of Registered Accessibility Specialists as well as those individuals dealing with the expected adoption of the revised ADA/ABA Guidelines.*

*In 2009 Registered Accessibility Specialists will be required to receive 8 hours of continuing education to retain their licenses with the State of Texas. Attending the two-day session will provide the classes necessary to meet the 2009 continuing education requirements.

We are now accepting reservations. Join or renew your TRASA membership now in order to receive the discounted member rate for the Annual Meeting.

Watch this website under the "Annual Meeting Tab" for continual updates regarding the agenda. The following are highlights of the upcoming event:

o ADA Compliance Update- State and National Speakers

o 8 hours of Continuing Education

o Resources for Professional Success

o Networking and Celebrating with Peers

o TRASA Annual and Committee Meetings

o Overview of Administrative and Technical Compliance with the State of TX

TRASA Annual Meeting

Date: January 29-30, 2009

Location: Marriot Austin North

2600 La Frontera Boulevard

Round Rock, TX 78681

Phone (800)865-0546

Fax (512)634-4619

(Limited Marriot group rates available under the name of TRASA Annual Meeting)

NEW MEMBERS - Posted 11/04/08

TRASA membership is from January 1st to December 31st of each year. The membership cost starting January 1, 2009 is $150.00 per year for a Standard Membership for a Registered Accessibility Specialist and $75 per year for an Associate Membership for a individuals who are NOT Registered Accessibility Specialists. When a new member joins it is applied only to the current calendar year.

DETECTABLE WARNINGS - Posted 08/11/08

The Texas Department of Transportation tests installations of detectable warnings in Austin and has a list of acceptable products that meet their qualifications. The following is a link to their list of detectable warnings - ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/cmd/mpl/qdwmat.pdf.

Note - This is for informational purposes. TRASA does not promote or approve any products.

NEW - Current status of the proposed the ADA/ABA Standards - Update 12/05/08

UPDATE: This information is from the American Institute of Architects

Bush Administration Set to Enforce New ADA Guidelines

On December 3, the White House gave the green light for the U.S. Department of Justice to implement new guidelines for the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) that were developed and announced by the U.S. Access Board in 2004. The next step would be for the Justice Department to issue a final rule making the new guidelines enforceable. Although there is no clear certainty of when the final rules will go into place, the AIA has learned that the rules may be "fast tracked" and put in place prior to January 20, when President Bush leaves office.

Here is the link http://www.aia.org/angle_nwsltr_current#Breaking%20News

For More News....

News may be posted on the "HOME" page of the TRASA website for a short period of time and then moved to the "NEWS" page of our website. Always check the "NEWS" page for additional articles that may not appear on the "HOME" page. If you are looking for previous articles and announcements they have been moved to the "NEWS" page.

Teresa Darr, Chair

Communications Committee

TRASA Executive Board

Teresa L. Darr

Leonard Lane

Charles Little

Chris Schexnayder

John Torkelson

TRASA Officers

Teresa L. Darr, President

John Torkelson, President-Elect

D. Clark Teel, Secretary

Doug Darr, Treasurer

Ron Jones, Information Technology