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Common Sense: Beyond the ADA Building Guidelines. Ingrid Hendrix, M.I.L.S. Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM. Objectives.
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Common Sense: Beyond the ADA Building Guidelines Ingrid Hendrix, M.I.L.S. Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
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.
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
Focus Group • Professional Women with Disabilities • Feedback on their experiences • 1 deaf, 2 blind, 3 power chair users, 1 scooter user, 1 little person • Not a statistically significant sample size, but a diverse audience
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
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
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
Misconceptions • PWD 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
Elements of ADA Guidelines to be covered • Parking • Entrances • Bathrooms
Spot the problem Hazard in the way of dismount area
Stancheons Prevent nasty surprises when you come back to your car
Spot the problem Gravel dismount area, no striping
Problematic Parking • Enough spaces • Wide striped area for vans • Spots on end of rows ideal
Enervating Entrances • Creature Discomforts • http://www.creaturediscomforts.org/watch
Enervating Entrances, continued • Push buttons problems • Coronado Mall – right in front and opens fast!
Spot the problem I guess this would be good if you only had the use of your head…
Spot the problem Push button placed high – difficult to reach – for woman OR beast!
Albuquerque Museum Fix for unreachable push button
Enervating Entrances, continued • No push buttons • Heavy doors • Air locks – downtown Flying Star restaurant • Short, steep ramps
Spot the Problem No push button or sliding doors. Heavy glass doors into the new wing of the hospital right off Lomas.
Traffic flow Pretty, but narrow. And high wall obscures people in wheelchairs coming from the left.
Bothersome Bathrooms • Heavy doors • Take the NO door approach – UNM Art & Architecture building, airports • Soap/paper towel dispensers • Toilet stalls • No turning radius • Not enough room to get in and close door
Spot the problem (bathroom entrance) Air lock to bathroom
Spot the problem Not enough room to pull open door and back up and door weighs a ton!
Spot the problem Automatic paper towel dispenser too high
Spot the problem Paper towel dispenser lever out of reach 27
Spot the problem Soap dispenser out of reach 28
Spot the problem Tiny locks on bathroom doors 29
Spot the problem Hook and shelf too high 30
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 31
Small stall 32
Out and about Lecture halls - few cut outs Movie theaters – off to the side or ‘crip corral’ Trash cans/planters/ashcans – in front of push button or elevator button Elevator doors that close too quickly 33
Spot the problem Trash can in front of light switch 34
Still out and about Hotel rooms with one bed – do you want to sleep with your attendant? Healthcare facilities – exam & waiting rooms, exam tables 35
Spot the Problem Foot plates hit the door before I can reach the bar to push and open the door. Requires a long reach. 36
Spot the problem Uneven pavement 38
Spot the problem Have to wheel into traffic to cross to the right 39
Spot the problem Another view of the curb problem 40
How to get input • Talk to PWD who use facility • Employees, students, faculty, public • Conduct focus groups • Hire a PWD to do a walk through • Independent living centers • Local commissions on disability 41
Be proactive, not reactive • Know requirements • www.access-board.gov • Do a barrier audit and plan for removal • Invite PWDs to review plan • Review plan with legal counsel 42
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 43
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 44
Proactive not reactive, continued Adapted from McGuinness, K. Getting ADA right. Building Operating Management . 2001 Include ADA requirements in RFPs Report annual ADA compliance progress to senior management Publicize your access! 45
Other things to consider Reach ranges – mid range High low fountains – those who can’t bend 46
Other things to consider, continued Emergencies Signage Swing away door hinges 47
Accessibility=Inclusion • Don’t make people with disabilities feel like second class citizens: • Ramps that take you into back entrances • Past garbage bins • Through kitchens, etc. 48
A few resources • AbleData - Searchable database of assistive technology products. • http://www.abledata.com/ • Click on Products • United States Access Board • http://www.access-board.gov/ • Sidewalk videos http://www.access-board.gov/news/sidewalk-videos.htm 49
More resources • Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) • This network of regional ADA technical assistance centers is a comprehensive resource for information, materials, technical assistance, and training on the ADA. The website and toll free number provide a means to connect to your regional center, ADA information, and an extensive list of publications. • ADA Technical Assistance Project • (800) 949-4232 • www.adata.org 50