What is the main purpose of Section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?

The main purpose of Section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is indeed to establish an access board for architectural compliance. This section focuses specifically on the need for buildings to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. It created the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, commonly known as the Access Board, which is responsible for developing guidelines that ensure facilities are designed and constructed in a manner that accommodates people with various types of disabilities.

The Access Board plays a crucial role in fostering compliance with accessibility standards, thereby promoting equity and inclusion in public spaces. Its guidelines inform the construction and alteration of facilities funded by federal money, assisting in the removal of physical barriers that can impede access for individuals with disabilities.

The other answers focus on different aspects of disability rights and services but do not align with the specific intent of Section 502. Ensuring fair wages for disabled workers, funding special education programs, and promoting mental health services are important issues, but they fall under different sections or laws aimed at supporting various needs and rights of individuals with disabilities.