Access, Measured on the Ground

Accessibility disputes frequently turn on dimensions: the slope of a ramp, the height of a threshold, the width of an accessible route, or the change in level at a transition. Paul Gaston evaluates as-built walking surfaces, ramps, transitions, and access routes against the applicable accessibility requirements for plaintiff and defense counsel in Chicago and Cook County.

Accessibility requirements appear in the building code and in the accessibility standards it references, and they are enforced through measurable criteria. A route that appears usable can still fall outside the permitted tolerances that determine compliance.

With an ADA compliance certification and repeated accessibility-remodel experience in public and commercial facilities, Paul measures and documents the physical conditions and compares them to the applicable requirements, while leaving medical, damages, and program-access policy questions to others.

Built-condition accessibility disputes rest on measurements that can be documented and reproduced: running and cross slopes, clear widths, changes in level and beveling at transitions, handrail height and extensions, maneuvering clearances at doors, and the continuity of the accessible route. Paul records these conditions and compares them to the applicable accessibility criteria, distinguishing physical, built-condition questions from the design and policy issues that lie outside his scope.

What Retaining Counsel Receives

Accessibility opinions are strongest when they rest on recorded measurements against published criteria. Paul provides documented, reproducible findings for a claim or defense.

Measured accessibility conditions against applicable criteria
Independent findings developed identically for plaintiff and defense
Documentation of slopes, clearances, and transitions
Evaluation of accessible-route continuity
Photographs and dimensioned field records
Written reports, rebuttal, deposition, and trial testimony
Scope limited to built conditions, excluding medical and policy opinions

Supporting Legal Outcomes With Evidence

When accessibility is disputed, Paul Gaston measures the built conditions, compares them to the applicable criteria, and reports the facts for plaintiff and defense. To discuss an accessibility matter involving walking surfaces, ramps, or access routes in Chicago or Cook County, request his CV and availability or begin a conflict check through the contact options on this page.

How Built-Condition Accessibility Is Evaluated

Identify the applicable accessibility requirements referenced by the governing code.
Establish the accessible route and the elements at issue along it.
Measure slopes, widths, changes in level, clearances, and handrail dimensions.
Compare each measured condition to the permitted tolerances.
Document non-conforming conditions and note where design or policy questions fall outside scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

What accessibility conditions do you evaluate on a built site?

Paul evaluates the physical, measurable conditions of the accessible route: ramp slopes, changes in level, walking-surface condition, handrails, door maneuvering clearances, thresholds, and landings. Each is measured and compared to the applicable accessibility criteria.

What is the difference between the ADA and the building's accessibility code?

The ADA is federal civil-rights law with design standards, while the building code references its own accessibility provisions and standards enforced through permitting. Paul evaluates built conditions against the applicable technical criteria and identifies which framework governs the measurements at issue.

How are ramp slopes and transitions measured?

Running slope, cross slope, and changes in level are measured with calibrated levels and recorded at representative and worst-case locations. Paul documents where conditions exceed the permitted tolerances and how far out of tolerance they are.

Do you offer medical or damages opinions in accessibility cases?

No. Paul's opinions are limited to the physical, built conditions and their compliance with accessibility criteria. Medical causation, injury, and damages questions are outside his scope and are left to appropriately qualified experts.

What triggers an accessibility requirement during a renovation?

Alterations to a facility commonly trigger accessibility requirements for the altered elements and, in some cases, the path connecting to them. Paul evaluates the scope of the work and the conditions that resulted, while questions of design intent are referred to a design professional where needed.

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