Common Sense: Beyond the ADA Building Guidelines

1. Common Sense: Beyond the ADA Building Guidelines Ingrid Hendrix, M.I.L.S. Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM

2. Objectives • Have a clearer understanding how ADA Accessibility Guidelines do not address many of the needs of the disabled population. • Give examples of accessible building design. • Give examples of its impact on an individual with a disability.

3. My Credentials • Disabled since 1981 with muscular dystrophy • Wheelchair user since 1997 • Cane Forearm crutches Power chair • Adapted van • Work full time • UNM Accessiblity Services Advisory Committee • UNM Facilities Access Committee • Active in community

4. Importance of Going Beyond ADA Accessibility Guidelines • It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law: • Architectural Barriers Act 1968 • Rehab Act 1973 Section 504 • American with Disabilities Act 1990 • ADA Accessibility Guidelines 1991 • ABA & ADAAG Revised 2004

5. Importance of Going Beyond ADA Accessibility Guidelines • More people with disabilities • 54 million or 21% of the U.S. population • Growing wounded veteran population • Increasing aging population • Only minority group that anyone can join at any time

6. Who needs expanded building guidelines? • Persons with disabilities (PWD) • Permanent or temporary • Parents with strollers • Students with rolling backpacks • Anyone and everyone • People will usually take a ramp, handicapped bathroom stall, curb cut if available – check it out Universal Design

7. Misconceptions • People with disabilities don’t come here • We’ll help them when they come • We can’t afford it • We’ll do it when we renovate • Our architects will take care of it

8. Elements of ADA Guidelines to be covered • Parking • Entrances • Bathrooms

9. Spot the problem Hazard in the way of dismount area

10. Stancheons Prevent nasty surprises when you come back to your car

11. Spot the problem Gravel dismount area, no striping

12. Problematic Parking • Enough spaces • Wide striped area for vans • Spots on end of rows ideal

13. Entrances • Push buttons problems • Many don’t work • Often they get turned off – night cleaning crews need to be informed not to turn them off

14. New Art & Architecture Building Spot the problem Push button at head height – not arm level. Or dog nose level.

15. UNM SUB Spot the problem Push button placed high – difficult to reach – for woman OR beast!

16. Enervating Entrances, continued • No push buttons • Heavy doors • Air locks – have to maneuver through 2 sets of doors

17. Spot the Problem No push button or sliding doors. Heavy glass doors into the new wing of the hospital right off Lomas.

18. New Domenici Education Building Traffic flow Pretty, but narrow. And high wall obscures people in wheelchairs coming from the left.

19. Bothersome Bathrooms • Heavy doors • Take the NO door approach – UNM Art & Architecture building, most airports • Soap/paper towel dispenser placement and height • Toilet stalls • No turning radius • Not enough room to get in and close door

20. Health Sciences and Service Building Spot the problem (bathroom entrance) Air lock to bathroom

21. New Domenici Education Building Spot the problem Not enough room to pull open door and back up and door weighs a ton!

22. UNM HSSB Spot the problem Automatic paper towel dispenser too high

23. UNM HSLIC Spot the problem Paper towel dispenser lever out of reach

24. UNM HSLIC Spot the problem Soap dispenser out of reach

25. Spot the problem Tiny locks on bathroom doors

26. UNM HSSB Spot the problem Hook and shelf too high

27. Bothersome Bathrooms, continued • Grab bars in random, unhelpful places • Light switches out of reach • Toilet paper out of reach • Toilet flush handle on inaccessible side • Trash receptacle – blocks door/button or paper towel dispenser

28. UNM HSLIC Small stall

29. Out and about • Trash cans/planters/ashcans – in front of push button or elevator button – UNM Legal Medical Bookstore – keep getting moved back in front of buttons – should be a standing order with maintenance crews.

30. Spot the problem Trash can in front of light switch

31. Still out and about • Healthcare facilities – • exam & waiting rooms – no space for wheelchairs – UNM Neurology Clinic, 1209 Clinic • exam tables too high

32. UNM SUB Spot the Problem Foot plates hit the door before I can reach the bar to push and open the door. Requires a long reach.

33. UNM HSC Plaza Spot the problem Uneven pavement

34. In front of new UNMH Pavilion Spot the problem Have to wheel into traffic to cross to the right

35. In front of new UNMH Pavilion Spot the problem Another view of the curb problem

36. Other things to consider, continued • Emergencies • Signage – locations of elevators, accessible entrances, wayfinders

37. How to get input • Talk to people with disabilities who use facility • Employees, the public • Conduct focus groups • Hire a person with a disability to do a walk through of new facilities or be involved in the planning phase of new construction.

38. Be proactive, not reactive • Know requirements • www.access-board.gov • Do a barrier audit and plan for removal • Invite people with disabilities to review plan • Review plan with legal counsel

39. Be proactive, not reactive, continued • Remove some barriers each year – using budgeted plan • Maintain reserve account and on call contracts to make modifications on demand

40. Be proactive, not reactive, continued • Create standards for maintenance and repair • Snow removal • Elevator downtime • Custodial work orders for keeping areas free of obstacles – trashcans, etc

41. Proactive not reactive, continued • Include ADA requirements in RFPs • Report annual ADA compliance progress to senior management • Publicize your access! Adapted from McGuinness, K. Getting ADA right. Building Operating Management . 2001

42. A final thought • Accessibility=Inclusion

43. Questions? A Devilishly Handsome Dog Production