Barrier-Free Accessibility

Barrier-Free Accessibility 13

Barrier-Free AccessibilityArts and MET Quad Miami University

Erin Bozarth.Nathan Kelley.Xi Li.Mia Pollock.Yinuo Wei

Plan Overview1. Introduction

2. Goals and Objectives

3. Background History

4. Community Stakeholders

5. Proposal #1 Short Term

a. Overview

b. Future Projection

c. Community Stakeholders

d. Crude Costs v. Benefits

6. Proposal #2 Long Term

a. Overview

b. Future Projection

c. Community Stakeholders

d. Crude Costs v. Benefits

7. Proposal #3 No Action

a. Overview

b. Future Projection

c. Community Stakeholders

d. Crude Costs v. Benefits

1. IntroductionMany people come to Miami University because of the nationally recognized academics, scenic campus and compactness of our academic buildings that makes it an easily walkable campus. Due to these factors, Miami appeals to students and faculty from across the world and continues to receive national prestige and academic recognition.

Aside from the honorable recognitions awarded to the university, Miami still needs to improve its efforts in accommodations for handicap accessibility. As an advocacy group of the disabilities awareness movement, we aim to decipher and pinpoint some of the major issues presented to this specific community of people. As the university aims to make the campus more disability friendly, the questions listed below should guide and propel further plans:

How do people in wheelchairs or those people who require special attention due to a physical disability feel about our campus?

Does the university provide easy accessibility around the campus to cater to those who may be restricted to wheelchairs?

These are all questions that are pertinent and should be more thoroughly considered as the campus continues to evolve and develop over the coming years. Because Miami has not been on the forefront of up-to-date and adequate handicap accessibility, there are probably populations, like the handicap community, that are deterred from attending the university due to these fixable barriers.

There is a population that Miami tends to turn-away because of the inconvenience of handicap accessible entrances and barrier-free routes that provide these people easy alternatives to get to and from, and in and out of buildings. Inconsistent curb cuts, buildings with only one handicap accessible entrance and doors that make it hard to maneuver with a wheelchair make Miami a very unfriendly campus to these people who require additional assistance.

2. Goals and Objectives

Barrier free routes - that is ways around campus that provide easy and convenient access to and from various points - is the overarching goal. Although there have been improvements made (this is not to discredit the university), but Miami is still not a completely accessible campus. This is obviously an issue that continues to plague our campus, so our interests are devoted to bringing attention to Miami University and the city of Oxford on how to make the campus more handicap accessible. Our different alternatives showcase changes that can be made immediately, in years to come or how the university would be in the future if no actions were taken.

A long-term goal of our project would be making Miami University among the top universities that are recognized as being labeled as a Disability Friendly College (Ross). The magazine New Mobility, the magazine for active wheelchair users, recently sent out a survey that rated how handicap accessible a college was within the United States. Miami was not even included on this list, and was topped by other colleges like the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and the University of California at Berkeley, which exceeded all expectations (Ross). Our main goal, that would take time, money and a lot of effort, would be to make Miami a school that is handicap accessible and meets all the criteria for being considered as a Disability Friendly College.

3. Background History

Spring Street, Patterson Avenue, Chestnut Street and Maple Street outline the block that we surveyed. This was an area of interest because it is a popular area for students, faculty and visitors of the campus. Because Shriver Center is a main focus of campus, known on campus as the student center, we thought this area would attract a lot of activity on a given day. This specific block provides a variety of mixed uses, so we thought it would provide valuable insight into handicap accessibility and serve as the starting part to showcase the excess or lack of handicap accessibility for the rest of campus.

Although there are many factors that make a campus highly handicap accessible, curb cuts and entrances with ramps and accessible doors are a main focus of this plan.

Curbs cuts: an immediate solution because it does not require an extensive amount of money or hard labor

Maple Street curb cuts are very inconsistent, only one curb cut to connect a crosswalk for the entire face of this street (this does not include entrances to parking lots)

Spring Street curb cuts are located at opposite ends of the block

Entrances, ramps and automatic push buttons: long-term solution that would require additional construction and money

Poorly maintained ramps

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is mandated to have one handicap accessible per building ("2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.") - Miami does meet this requirement

Inconvenient and inconsistence handicap accessible entrances

According to Andy Zeisler, Miami Universitys Office of Disability Resources director, approximately 4% of the student population has some type of disability (this is not specific to just students who are in wheelchairs; because the definition of disability includes both intellectual and physical disabilities.) Out of this percentage, 23 students are registered with the Office of Disability Resources as having some type of mobility issue.

Mr. Zeisler said that there are many problems that hinder handicap accessibility because our university is quite old and buildings were not initially built to accommodate these people, and there were not strict and mandated ADA guidelines. However, Mr. Zeisler does note great strides have been made over the past couple of decades to ensure access to all academic and administrative buildings either through building modifications and renovations, or by program accessibility. Because of new laws enforced by ADA, if a student requires additional assistance and that building does not provide proper accommodations, classes have to be moved to an accessible building. Although the university enforces this, the Office of Disability Resources is aiming to make the entire campus handicap accessible and is hoping over time with renovations and new buildings that Miami will strive to be a barrier-free campus. All new buildings have to comply with ADA guidelines.

It was also noted that the major problem that the university and the Office of Disability Resources is dealing with is the accessibility to dormitories. Mr. Zeisler noted that currently on campus there are 10 dorms that are completely handicap accessible and a future goal of the university and this specific office is to make all dorms handicap accessible. Out of the three dorms we observed, two of the three dorms were handicap accessible.4. Community Stakeholders

1. People with physical disabilities: Miami could become a much more welcoming community if the university widened the spectrum of who is able to be accommodated on campus with the implication of curb cuts and/ or more handicap accessible entrances. The diversity of the student body and faculty would allow for more honor and prestige devoted to the university.2. Miami University and the City of Oxford: Better reputation among the disability community due to increase in curb cuts and handicap accessibility. Able to house more events that cater specifically to people restricted to wheelchairs or are impeded with other physical disabilities. 5. Proposal #1 Curb Cuts

A. Overview

Our first alternative would denote immediate actions, like curb cuts. On the block we focused on, there was an inconsistency with curb cuts and did not follow a pattern and seemingly was not systematic. Not only does this showcase poor planning, but it also makes it harder and inconvenient to get around campus for those confined to wheelchairs. For curb cuts, we define them, according to Merriam Websters dictionary, as a small ramp or slope from a sidewalk to a roadway to ease passage for people in wheelchairs, bicyclists, etc. Curb cuts are essential for handicap accessibility because they provide easy access onto sidewalks and are truly the only way for wheelchair users to get onto these communal pathways.

B. Future Projections

Among the ADA guidelines, it is now an enforced policy that Newly constructed or altered streets, roads, and highways must contain curb ramps or other sloped areas at any intersection having curbs or other barriers to entry from a street level pedestrian walkway ("2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.") These small changes could lead to much more convenient access to physically handicapped people and allow more barrier- free routes on campus, to academic buildings, the student center and dormitories.

The area we surveyed shows very inconsistent curb cuts. For instance, the front entrance of Shriver that faces Spring Street only has two curb cuts and they are located at the entrance and exit of the roundabout driveway. There are not clear curb cuts along any other part of the sidewalk, except for ones that have already been constructed due to driveways and parking lots entrances. Because of this inconsistency of curb cuts, people in wheelchairs may be forced into moving on the street until the next curb cut- and in the case of this specific block could take longer than necessary.

C. Community Stakeholders

For community stakeholders, as mentioned previously as being these peoples with physical disabilities, this plan would be most beneficial to them. People who are capable and able to walk at their own discretion do not see the inconsistency of curb cuts as a major problem because curb cuts do not pose as a barrier. If this plan were implemented, it would affect the major stakeholders we previously mentioned those restricted to wheelchairs and are restricted by other type of physical disabilities. Although this plan would not provide a complete resolution to a completely barrier-free campus, it would be the first step in the Office of Disability Resources initiative of making the campus completely barrier-free.

D. Crude Costs v. Benefits

Curbs cuts would be among some of the easiest fixes. As opposed to reconstructing entrances to building or installing push buttons, curbs cuts could be addressed quite simply. As repairs for sidewalks are constantly undergone to repair damages, it would only require somewhat more work to create a sloping preface to the sidewalk to allow for wheelchairs to easily approach sidewalks. The implementation of curb cuts does not only involve new construction, but these types of sloping ramps can be bought from distributors. Easily constructed curb cuts can be bought from online businesses, like Handi-Ramp, which can be purchased at a reasonable price and guarantees less than 30 minutes to install (www.handiramp.com). Although this may not be as aesthetically pleasing as remodeling sidewalks, this would provide another option for how to make curb cuts.

6. Proposal #2 Handicap Accessible Entrances

A. OverviewThe idea for Miami University in long-term planning is to have a holistic approach when it comes to the planning and developing of new buildings, both academic and residential. This plan would take into account how buildings are designed, the placements of these buildings and convenience and accessibility of entrances.Curbs cuts are not only important and essential, but the university also needs to focus on the continuation of access into the buildings for those people with physical disabilities. When planning for new buildings, the university should aim to make multiple handicap accessibility entrances in the main goal of making Miami a completely handicap accessible campus.

B. Future ProjectionsCurrently, many of the buildings on campus only have one handicapped accessible entrance. Although this complies with the ADA guidelines that require all buildings to have at least one handicap accessible entrance, this is by no means ideal for people with physical disabilities. Some of these buildings that we surveyed are fairly large buildings, but they only have one handicap accessible entrance, which can be fairly problematic. To aid our goal in making the entire campus handicap accessible, the university would have to invest time and effort into rethinking ramps and entrances into buildings that cater to all types of people.For future constructions projects on campus, the university should make an initiative to make multiple handicap accessible entrances and ramps for each building. One of the main problems on campus is that some of the handicap ramps and entrances are not clearly thought out, so these aids tend to be more complicated than beneficial. Also, some of the ramps are poorly maintained

C. Community StakeholdersThe implementation of our second proposal would largely benefit the disabilities community. If this plan was enforced, it would not only be beneficial to the reputation of the university, but would welcome a larger array of people because the university would be able to accommodate many different type of people. Also, Miami University is one of the biggest stakeholders that would be affected by this proposal. First, the university would have to pay for the renovations that would implement ramps and entrances, or would have to completely finance handicap accessibility for newly constructed buildings. As a result of construction due to renovations or new buildings, the Miami student body and faculty would be affected because new construction always poses inconveniences around campus. However, our group does believe that these changes and construction would benefit Miami in the long run.

D. Crude Costs v. BenefitsThe cost for a new ramp may be more than Miami University is willing to pay, however; the benefits to a new ramp out weighs the costs. Currently the lack of handicap ramps could be turning students away. If Miami University were to make the campus a more handicap friendly university, they would be reaching more students that normally would not choose to attend. The new increase in tuition could be put toward building expenses to help pay for the ramps.

7. Proposal #3 No Action

A. Overview

The third alternative solution would be a business as usual approach, implementing no further action. This solution would leave this block of Miamis campus with the present barriers it currently has, as well as leaving the curb cuts that are already there. This alternative would still comply with the ADA requirements, but of course it still has its flaws.

The maintenance issue among the campus sidewalks would remain although the current state of sidewalks or curbs is less than satisfactory and could result in unsafe movement. Further maintenance to sidewalks and curb cuts would not be a part of this alternative. Curbs that are seemingly meant for people in wheelchairs that are in a state of disrepair (such as the one near the Center for Performing Arts) would likely continue to appear around campus.

The no-action alternative solution for this planning issue will continue to affect those stakeholders being students and members of the community with physical handicaps that need efficient ways of getting around campus. Whereas students without physical handicaps can get to class in a brief time, crossing streets wherever they please and entering whichever doors are most easily accessible to them, handicap students, the main stakeholders in this planning problem, will continue to face major barriers in getting from class to class under the business-as-usual alternative.

One of the benefits of the no-action alternative is that it would cost Miami University very little. Curb cuts would remain and no new ones would be built, no new ramps would be built other than those already planning on being implemented in newly constructed buildings, and overall accessibility would not be altered, making no additional costs to Miami. Another benefit of this would be a lack of problem-specific construction, which would potentially lead to more accessibility issues not only for handicapped people but also for able-bodied people. Disadvantages to this alternative include still-limited accessibility, poorly maintained sidewalks and curb cuts for everyone to use, and a lack of convenience for those members of the Oxford community who may need it most. While this no-action solution would cost the school very little, it may end up costing more in the long run with a lack of diversity and an unsafe campus.

Works CitedRoss, Rachel. "Disability Friendly Colleges." New Mobility: The Magazine for Active Wheelchair Users. Sept. 1998. Web. 21 Sept. 2011. "Curb Cut Ramps."Ramps and Ramp Products From Handi-Ramp. Web. 15 Nov. 2011."The UNC ACCESS Project on Campus Accessibility." Access to Higher Education. University of North Carolina. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. "2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design."ADA Home Page - Ada.gov - Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.Goal: Immediate addition of curb-cuts to aid in barrier free routes

Goal: A campus in which people with disabilities can easily access all academic and residential buildings

Goal: To maintain a campus that meets ADA requirements

Figure 2 Existing conditions of the southern part of the block of study.

Figure 1 Existing conditions of the northern part of the block of study.

Figure 3 An example of a Handi-Ramp curb cut ("Curb Cut Ramps")