About the Office on Disability and Accessibility

The Office on Disability and Accessibility (ODA), formerly the Mayor’s Office on Disability (MOD), is charged with ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and equity in city services for people with disabilities. Established in 1998, the office is the first in the country to be designated as a municipality’s overall Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator.

Our goal: achieving inclusion through accessibility
ODA works to make San Francisco a city where everyone—residents, visitors, and workers—can fully participate in civic life. Whether navigating our public buildings, riding public transportation, accessing emergency services, or engaging with civic programs, accessibility is the throughline that makes full inclusion possible. ODA works to ensure that every City-funded or operated program, service, and facility is accessible and usable by people with disabilities and older adults.

Video

Introducing ODA Director Eli Gelardin.

How we work
ODA serves as the City’s ADA Coordinator and is responsible for overseeing San Francisco’s ADA Transition Plan, maintaining the citywide ADA grievance procedure, and providing expert technical assistance to departments on disability access. The office also reviews capital project proposals, advises on digital accessibility standards, and collaborates on disability-inclusive disaster preparedness planning.

We lead initiatives that not only address disability needs but also enhance the livability and resilience of our City. Our team partners with ADA and Digital Accessibility Coordinators across City departments to remove physical, digital, and programmatic barriers. We support legislative and policy initiatives, public education efforts, and promote best practices that uphold the rights and dignity of all San Franciscans.

In 2025, ODA transitioned to join the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) within the San Francisco Human Services Agency, expanding its mission from compliance oversight to a more holistic approach that integrates accessibility with innovation, public engagement, and equity.