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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