Four-Part Series on Accessibility and the ADAAG

About the Presenter - Mark Derry

For two years prior to starting his own firm, Mark Derry worked as a Technical Assistance Specialist and Trainer for the ADA Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Center is one of ten regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) established by the U.S Department of Education to provide training, information, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, consumers, and state and local governments. Mark left his position with the ADA Information Center in 1999 to start a consulting firm called Eastlake, Derry and Associates, - Accessibility Solutions. The firm specializes in accessibility, universal design, and ADA consulting and training.

As a young small business owner in the late 70's and early 80's, Mark designed and built custom vehicles to include lift-equipped conversion vans and automobiles with hand-controls to enable people with disabilities to drive and thus be more independent. After becoming an amputee as the result of a motorcycle accident in 1983, he started a construction business specializing in residential remodeling, to include home modifications to remove architectural barriers.

In 1993, Mark went to work as an architectural barrier consultant for Action Toward Independence, a Center for Independent Living in New York State. While at the Center, Mark served three years on the State Access Codes Board, and co-founded and chaired the ADA Committee in New York. He also hosted a monthly radio talk show on disability issues called "Making Waves", and served on the Assistive Technology Advisory Board at the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

Since moving to West Virginia in 1997, Mark has been active on a local level with his wife, Jan Derry, who is the Executive Director of the Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living. He has been appointed by two West Virginia Governors to the Statewide Independent Living Council, and serves as Chair of the West Virginia ADA Coalition. Mark has been trained and receives regular updates on the ADA by the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board also called the Access Board. Mark also currently serves as a member of the Public Rights of Way Access Advisory Committee for the Access Board. For several years Mark has been an Individual Member and Affiliate Trainer, and in July 2000 was elected by his peers to the Governing Board of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL).

These days Mark spends about a third of his time writing and delivering training on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines and teaching groups of architects, facility managers and advocates how to survey for accessibility. Another third of his time is spent reviewing blueprints for designers to help ensure accessibility in their projects. The other third of Mark's time is spent surveying physical properties for accessibility, having assessed millions of square feet of facilities, and reviewing others' surveys. He writes articles for several newsletters and other publications on the ADA and architectural access. When not on the road, he lives and works from his home-based office in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Contact Information

Mark E. Derry
737 Powell Ave.
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304)296-3510

Profile:

Extensive contract administration and supervisory experience
Ability to develop and manage programs effectively
Expert in laws relevant to civil rights of persons with disabilities
Ability to effectively develop and deliver presentations and written communication
Strong commitment to Universal Design and Independent Living Philosophy

Experience:

Eastlake, Derry & Associates, LLC
Accessibility Solutions
737 Powell Ave, Morgantown, WV 26505
President, 6/99 to present

Currently providing accessibility, Universal Design, & ADA consulting and training services, including accessibility surveys and survey training for State and Local Governments, Public Accommodations, Fair Housing entities, Corporations, and advocates. Satisfied clients have included the Maryland School for the Blind, Zamias Property Management Services, City of Port Jervis, NY, the American Psychological Association, City of Bowie, MD, the WV Attorney General's Office, Wood County Airport, WV, and several national corporations as a subcontractor for architectural firms that are our clients. In 2001, we assessed the Johns Hopkins University Campus, in Baltimore, MD, with more than 60 buildings at 2.6 million square feet over 128 campus acres.

Provision of presentations and trainings on the Americans with Disabilities Act Titles II & III, the ADA Accessibility Guidelines and updates, Fair Housing / 504 accessibility, and disability awareness and sensitivity training. Our recent customers include several of the Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs), the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the University of Maryland School of Architecture, the New Mexico State Department of Highways and Transportation, Cornell University, AIA West Virginia, the National Center on Accessibility, Bovis Lend/Lease, and Triad Hospitals.

In 1999, served as an alternate on the Passenger Vessel Committee for the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), and currently represent NCIL on the Public Rights of Way Access Advisory Committee for the Access Board. I remain a NCIL Member and Affiliate Trainer since 1996.

Currently serving the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) as the immediate past Chairperson by 2nd gubernatorial appointment, Chair of the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Board in West Virginia, Chair of the West Virginia ADA Coalition, and on the tenth anniversary of the ADA, elected to the NCIL Board of Directors.

Federal Region 3 Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC)
ADA Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region
451 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850-4151
Technical Assistance Specialist, 8/97 to 10/99 (currently Contract Trainer)

Provided telephone technical assistance to callers on the ADA hotline in an accurate, professional and timely manner, and helped develop tracking system for handling calls.
Participated in developing and conducting "ADA Resources" trainings at Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in the region, and Title III Trainings for Code enforcement Officials in WV, and three counties in PA, including slide presentations on ADAAG requirements.
Co-trained under cooperative agreement with Region II DBTAC to provide two trainings in that region; delivered presentations and training on the ADA to the West Virginia SILC, the WV Vocational Rehabilitation Association, the Maryland Legal Aid Project, University of MD School of Architecture, and Maryland Dept. of Transportation.
Developed new curriculum directed at architects and building officials, to include a new slide show which works with the recently released ADAAG Manual to teach about accessibility. Presented draft of curriculum for the Access Board at their offices in Washington, DC.
Wrote articles for Center Newsletter "ADA in Focus", as well as a Pennsylvania magazine called "Good News", and articles for training ads and CIL newsletters.

Action Toward Independence, Inc., Sullivan County Division
33 Lakewood Ave, Monticello, NY 12701
Program Manager, Architectural Barrier Consultant, promoted 11/95 to 7/97

Responsible for initial setup of full-time Satellite Office, to include facility coordination, furnishings, hiring of staff, community networking and marketing/publicity for start-up.
Management of center operations, training and supervision of five full time staff and three volunteers, as well as associated record keeping and quarterly reports.
Maintained involvement in various organizations such as: State Access Codes Committee, County Housing Committees, and NYS Office of Advocate for Persons With Disabilities.
Co-founding Chairperson for state ADA Committee (ADAC). Conceived, promoted, and helped develop Cooperative Training Project with NeDBTAC and New York CILs, providing 18 trainings throughout upstate New York and Harlem, co-training/facilitating at 14 personally.

Action Toward Independence, Inc., Orange County Division
2927 Route 6, Slate Hill, NY 10973
Architectural Barrier Consultant/ADA Coordinator, 3/94 to 11/95

Development of ABC services including: commercial site surveys, home evaluations to determine consumers' needs, project planning, contract administration and management.
Set up and organized a Resource Library for ADA and Assistive Technology at the Center.
Developed and administered contract for ADA Title II Evaluation for theCity of Port Jervis, NY.
Development of architect, local vendor, and contractor networks for seven county area, and organizational networking with the MS Society, UCP, EPVA, United Way, and others.
Developed and hosted monthly radio call-in talk show called "Making Waves" to promote awareness and provide information on ADA and other issues effecting people with disabilities.

Ma-Mar Construction, Inc., Sparrowbush, NY
Owner, 1983 to 1993
Owned and operated construction business specializing in residential home improvements and remodeling. Designed and built custom kitchens, bathrooms, and other projects utilizing up to three construction crews while managing marketing, sales, and bookkeeping operations.

Wright-Way, Inc., Garland, TX
Custom Van Designer/Builder, 1981-1983
Specialized in design and construction of accessible van conversions. Installed wheelchair lifts, power doors, power seat systems, hand controls, raised roofs, and complete interiors.

Military Service:

United States Air Force, Honorably Discharged

Education and Training:

U.S. Air Force, Denver, CO, Technical Procurement, 1976
U.S. Air Force, Whiteman AFB, MO, Contract Administration 1977
Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ Construction Estimating 1986
Action Toward Independence, Slate Hill, NY ADA/ADAAG Training (DREDF) 1994
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY CIL Simulation Training(V.Rennick) 1995
Dominican College, Orangeburg, NY CIL Team Management Training(M.Shreve) 1995
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY CIL Executive Management Training(Rennick/Shreve)1995
Spectrum Seminars, Inc., Syracuse, NY Fair Housing /Section 504 Training 1995
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY CIL Financial and Grants Management (V.Rennick) 1996
NCIL ADA-ILC National Training Project, Advanced ADA Training (M.Golden) 1996
NCIL ADA-ILC National Training Project, Train the Trainer Workshop (M.Newman) 1997
ADA-Ohio Training Project, EEOC/ADA Title I Advanced Training (R.Jones) 1997
Department of Justice, ADA Title II & III Advanced Training 1998
NCIL/DOJ/DOT, ADA & Transportation Training 1998
BOCA International, Accessibility Codes Training 1998
Access Board(USATBCB), Accessibility Guidelines Advanced Training 1999