APAC-BE Certificants

Not only specializing in all things accessibility all over the world, but also Universal Design consulting.

Gene is a project manager at Code Consultants, Inc., a multi-discipline consulting firm headquartered in St. Louis Missouri with additional offices in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In addition to accessibility consulting, the firm provides life safety consultation, egress computer modeling and smoke control computer modeling, engineered fire alarm and fire sprinkler design, and low voltage building systems design.

Included in Gene's activities are proactive plan reviews for facilities in the design phases and during construction for access and means of egress relative to disabled accessibility. These reviews are based on the Federal standards adopted for the specific facility (i.e. ADA, Title II, ADA Title III, ABAAS, DoD, GSA, VA, FHA, UFAS, etc.). Additionally, state and municipal codes are reviewed to address the applicable provisions by the state and local entities (i.e., TAS, IBC, etc.). A few interesting projects include the New York World Trade Center buildings, Hudson Yards in New York, and Google's new facilities in Mountain View, CA.

Gene actively participates at ICC code development. He represents the National Association of Theater Owners as a voting member of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

For existing facilities and recent construction, he performs on-site surveys of in-situ conditions. Evaluations of existing accessible elements are based on a multi-faceted approach: compliance with state/federal barrier removal requirements, compliance with applicable accessibility regulations at the time of construction; and, recommendations based on current and proposed accessibility standards and regulations.

One of the interesting tasks is to provide FHA Compliance training. This program is intended to address obligations under FHA Consent Decrees by the Department of Justice as well as provide general useful information on the Fair Housing Act and Owner/Architect obligations. He has also been expert witness for the defense on FHA complaints.

Steve Cain is a registered architect and accessibility consultant with over 40 years of experience in the design and construction industry. For nearly half of that time, he has focused extensively on accessibility compliance, particularly in hospitality and multifamily residential projects.

Steve has served as an expert witness in numerous ADA and FHA cases, supporting property owners, developers, design professionals, and contractors. Known for his practical, solutions-oriented approach, he is a trusted resource who brings clarity and insight to accessibility challenges across all phases of design, construction, and operation of facilities.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Technology from Purdue University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois. Steve is certified by the International Code Council as an Accessibility Inspector and Plans Examiner and holds an APAC-BE certificate from the Accessibility Professionals Association. He is also an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

Susan established Access Compliance Consulting in August of 2021 to use her thirty-plus years of experience to provide training, consulting, and publications on accessibility in the built environment. She is the sole proprietor of a woman-owned business.

As a sole proprietor, she has:

• Obtained AIA CES Provider and ICC Preferred Provider status.
• Conducted plan review consulting services for multi-family housing projects to ensure compliance with Federal and state regulations and codes.
• Developed and delivered online webinars for the following topics.
• In-depth scoping for Accessible Housing
• Accessible Housing Site Elements and Facilities
• Common Areas within Accessible Housing Facilities
• Accessible Housing Dwelling Units
• Highlighting Accessibility Amendments in the 2022 California Building Code
• Accessible Residential Unit Kitchens
• Accessible Residential Dwelling Unit Toilet and Bathing Rooms

As a sole proprietor and at the Division of the State Architect, she developed and delivered online webinars specific to the needs of the following clients. 

• LAHD Development Team and Architect Training
• American Public Works Association
• City of Petaluma
• Pacific ADA Center
• University of California
• California State University 
• National ADA Symposium
• Certified Access Specialist Institute
• CALBO Training Institute

Her experience at the Division of the State Architect from January 2011 through July 2021 included the following tasks. 

•    A team member who participated in the 2013 California Building Code rulemaking. During that rulemaking cycle, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design became the model code for Chapter 11B. That required a complete rewrite and reformatting of Chapter 11B.

•    Participated in subsequent rulemaking cycles where she focused on the federal housing-related regulations to bring Chapter 11B in alignment with those regulations. 

•    Developed training sessions for the DSA Academy and delivered in-person and online training. The in-person training consisted of four one-day sessions, including plan review, public housing, housing at a place of education, and updates to Chapter 11B.

•    She authored the code change that completed the separation between Chapters 11A and 11B and the Guide to Public Housing Regulated by Chapter 11B of the California Building Code.

•    She designed the first open book exam for the CASp examination and is a CASp subject matter expert.