Common Sense: Beyond the ADA Building Guidelines

Ingrid Hendrix, M.I.L.S.Health Sciences Library & Informatics CenterUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerque, 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.

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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

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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 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

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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

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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

7Universal 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

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Elements of ADA Guidelines to be covered

Parking

Entrances

Bathrooms

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www.adverbox.com/disabled-people-awareness/

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Spot the problemHazard in the way of dismount area

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StancheonsPrevent nasty surprises when you come back to your car

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Spot the problemGravel dismount area, no striping

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Problematic Parking

Enough spaces

Wide striped area for vans Spots on end of rows ideal

Enervating Entrances

Creature Discomforts http://www.creaturediscomforts.org/

watch

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Enervating Entrances, continued

Push buttons problems

Coronado Mall – right in front and opens

fast!

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Spot the problemI guess this would be good if you only had the use of your head…

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Spot the problemPush button placed high – difficult to reach – for woman OR beast!

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Albuquerque MuseumFix for unreachable push button

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Enervating Entrances, continued

No push buttons

Heavy doors

Air locks – downtown Flying Star

restaurant

Short, steep ramps

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Spot the ProblemNo push button or sliding doors. Heavy glass doors into the new wing of the hospital right off Lomas.

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Traffic flowPretty, but narrow. And high wall obscures people in wheelchairs coming from the left.

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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

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Spot the problem (bathroom entrance)Air lock to bathroom

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Spot the problemNot enough room to pull open door and back up and door weighs a ton!

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Spot the problemAutomatic paper towel dispenser too high

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Spot the problemPaper towel dispenser lever out of reach

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Spot the problemSoap dispenser out of reach

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Spot the problemTiny locks on bathroom doors

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Spot the problemHook and shelf too high

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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

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Small stall

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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

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Spot the problemTrash can in front of light switch

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Still out and about

Hotel rooms with one bed – do you want to sleep with your attendant?

Healthcare facilities – exam & waiting rooms, exam tables

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Spot the ProblemFoot plates hit the door before I can reach the bar to push and open the door. Requires a long reach.

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Spot the Problem

Spot the problemUneven pavement

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Spot the problemHave to wheel into traffic to cross to the right

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Spot the problemAnother view of the curb problem

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Proactive not reactive, continued

Include ADA requirements in RFPs

Report annual ADA compliance

progress to senior management

Publicize your access!

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Adapted from McGuinness, K. Getting ADA right. Building Operating Management . 2001

Other things to consider

Reach ranges – mid range High low fountains – those who can’t

bend

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Other things to consider, continued

Emergencies Signage Swing away door hinges

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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.

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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

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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

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A final thought

“Consider the quote from the movie Field of Dreams – ‘If you build it, they will come.’ Build it right, and then tell people that you built it”

Joan W. Stein. ADA Ensures accessibility for all. Maintenance Solutions, Feb. 2007.

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Questions?

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