Access Maze

Several years ago two architects and an interior designer got together to determine how to get the word out on accessibility to other fellow design professionals. This led to the creation of the Access Maze, a full-scale model of the ADA standards for accessible design.

The accessmaze video was created-to provide education in the field of accessible design. The program targets professionals who design and build both residential and commercial living environments. The video consists of offering a comprehensive look at a key area of accessible design, provides practical, proven, real-life information on the most effective ways to create living environments for people with disabilities and the aging population.

The Access Maze was carefully constructed to the code's minimum standards. individuals could experience the Maze by using a wheelchair to try the different ramp slopes and experience for themselves the difficulties of certain codes. The wooden construction demonstrated most of the design options including doors, ramps, bathroom transfers and ranges of reach for fixture installations. This maze was set up at several AIA (American Institute of Architecture) conferences at the Minneapolis Convention center, where many individuals experienced the code limitations. The Maze is nationally known due to the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities' Grand Prize Award in 1995 from the National Organization on Disability.

AccessMaze.org
Minneapolis Advisory Committee
on People with Disabilities
350 South 5th Street, Room 11
Minneapolis, MN 55415