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Peter has over 25 years' experience in disability compliance issues, and is recognized for his expertise in disability policy and universal design. He brings vast experience in regulation and policy development, building and facility evaluation and plan review. He's able to identify cost effective program and/or structural solutions to accessibility issues. He has been qualified as an expert by both state and federal courts and has extensive litigation/expert witness experience.
His introduction to accessibility issues came in the early 1980s when he consulted on the design and construction of home accessibility modifications for disabled persons, through The Center for Independence of the Disabled (CID). At that time, California had just passed its first set of accessibility standards and was looking for individuals to train and act as resources in their communities. Peter undertook this challenge and has been working in the field ever since.
In the mid 1980s he directed the Access California program, one of the nation's first resource centers on accessibility and disability. In 11 years working for the City of Oakland, Peter served as the ADA Programs and Facilities Coordinator for over five years, working directly with the City Manager, elected officials and Department Heads to implement accessibility programs.
Ready to expand the scope of his consulting, he resigned his municipal post and stared Margen + Associates. One of his first projects was overseeing the accessibility features of the huge $290 million San Francisco City Hall renovation. At that time, he also wrote policy and provided training for the San Francisco Department of Public Works.
 From 1999-2006 Peter served on the California Building Standards Commission, Accessibility Advisory Committee. Since 2003 he's been an instructor with the University of California, Institute of Transportation Studies, Technology Transfer Program, and teaching accessibility to public right-of-way to design professionals and municipalities throughout California.
 As a consultant, he has assisted the California Division of The State Architect in securing certification of the California Building Code for ADA equivalency. He was on the team which wrote the accessibility code changes to the 2007 California Building Code. He also served as a Subject Matter Expert in developing examination and testing materials for the California Accessibility Specialist Certification Program (CASp)
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Human Interest.
 Apart from his work in the disability access field, Peter is an avid guitarist and songwriter. He has performed professionally with a variety of artists, including British organist Brian Auger, Singers Kathy McDonald, Jessie "Mr. Soul" James, and in bands with members of Santana, Tower of Power and Grover Washington Jr. He plays and writes a variety of musical genres from acoustic smooth jazz to "down home and greasy" funk and blues.
Currently, he is working on a CD of original music with his groupCalico Crew and songwriting collaborators, Hector Banez and Natalie Figueroa. The CD is due to be released at the end of 2008. Samples of Peter's music can me heard on myspace
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