The manufacturers’ petition is a reflection of a much larger problem, which is the continuing tendency to design and engineer without consideration of accessibility, then to try to retrofit in some distant tomorrow. Accessibility has to be worked into the primary design criteria at the outset of any project. Otherwise, it’s like pouring the concrete footers after erecting the roof. I’m a bit fanatical about that, but only because it isn’t rocket science; it should be common knowledge and common courtesy.

If it isn’t accessible, it isn’t well designed. If people want to remain competitive, they’ll have to bring a better product to market. It’s that simple, but time and again we see that corners will be cut if the standards aren’t upheld.