Defending Your Rights

Disability Rights:
Environmental Barriers Act (410 ILCS 25/1 et seq.)

The Office of Attorney General is responsible for investigating complaints alleging violations of the Illinois Environmental Barriers Act (EBA).

The EBA, enacted in 1985 and amended in 1996, is the statute that governs physical access for people with disabilities in new construction, additions and alterations to public facilities. The Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC) contains the design standards required by the EBA such as the required width of a door and the number of accessible parking spaces that must be provided.

The Illinois Accessibility Code Site Inspection Checklist is a guide to help people determine whether new construction of public facilities complies with the EBA. A copy of the IAC can be obtained from the Capital Development Board's Web site. To obtain a complaint form or a copy of the Site Inspection Checklist, contact the Disability Rights Bureau.

Voluntary compliance continues to be the most efficient and successful method to resolve accessibility complaints, however, lawsuits are filed when necessary.

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