U.S. to Celebrate World Standards Day 2010 with a Focus on Standards for Accessibility

Twenty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was enacted, fundamentally changing and improving the way that many Americans access the built environment, transportation, communication, and information technology. Today the ADA - together with the many different abilities and needs of people across the country - has led to a myriad of accessibility-related requirements and solutions in every industry. From technologies that are user-friendly for the deaf and blind communities, to physical environments that are accessible to persons with physical disabilities, to products that can be easily used by the elderly, today's accessibility solutions allow for the greatest number of people to enjoy many aspects of everyday life that may otherwise be unmanageable.

This year, the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day - Standards for Accessibility - will recognize the critical role of model codes, standards, and conformity assessment activities in developing and maintaining the built environment, products, technologies, and systems that are accessible for persons with special needs.

Leaders of business, industry, academia, and government will gather in Washington, DC on September 23, 2010, for a celebration of the role standards play in achieving universal access for all populations. The event will kick off with a reception and exhibition at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. The evening's festivities include presentation of the 2010 Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award, which was named after the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce and honors an individual who has dedicated him/herself to the promotion of standardization as a key tool in the elimination of global trade barriers. The winners of the 2010 World Standards Day Paper Competition will also be announced and presented with their awards.

Since the initial celebration in 1970, World Standards Day is now recognized in nations around the globe. U.S. activities are organized annually by a planning committee consisting of representatives from across the standards and conformity assessment community. The event is co-chaired each year by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will serve as the administrating organization for this year's event.

For more information or to register, please visit www.wsd-us.org. Advance registration is required.