When assessing the accessibility of a facility, check to see that:
PARKING:
Lots at all buildings are well lit.
Parking spaces are marked and reserved for people with disabilities.
Minimum number of accessible parking spaces
TOTAL PARKING
REQUIRED MINIMUM NUMBER IN LOT OF ACCESSIBLE SPACES
1to 25 1
26 to 50 2
51 to 75 3
76 to 100 4
101 to 150 5
151 to 200 6
201 to 300 7
301 to 400 8
401 to 500 9
501 to 1000 2 percent of total
1001 and over 20, plus 1 for each 100 over 1000
Minimum width for an accessible parking space: 8 feet plus a 5 foot access aisle for cars and 8 feet plus an 8 foot access aisle for lift-equipped vans. This will allow a person to unload a wheelchair and to transfer into it from the vehicle.
An ACCESSIBLE ROUTE with curb cuts exists from the parking lot to the accessible entrance.
RAMPS:
-Extend 12†for every 1â€of rise, e.g., a 4â€step would need a 48†ramp.
-Have a minimum width of 36â€.
-Are equipped with handrails if longer than 6 ft.
-Have 60†square level landings at the top and bottom of the ramp
ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCES:
Clearly marked by the international symbol of accessibility.
DOORS:
DOORWAYS have clear opening of 32â€.
DOORS are automatic, or have levers or push handles.
CORRIDORS are a min. 36 “ wide; 60†wide is preferred if there is two-way traffic.
Wall mounted objects do not project into accessible route/path more than 4â€.
INSIDE FACILITIES:
Check to make sure that:
COUNTER/REGISTRATION TABLES are between 28†and 34†high.
SIGNAGE for permanent rooms (hotel rooms, restrooms, etc.) have Braille and raised letters.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS, at least one on every floor in every building, are wheelchair accessible, with spouts no more than 36†from the floor. If not, mount a supply of paper cups next to the fountain.
TELEPHONES are available in an accessible area of all buildings and are at an appropriate height for wheelchairs, with controls no higher than 48’†if a
person must reach forward, or 54†if a person may approach and reach from the side.
Phones have a volume control. TTY’s, if available, are located in the same area as other ones.
ELEVATORS/WHEELCHAIR LIFTS are available if more than one floor in any building is used.
Elevators or liftcabs are large enough to accommodate a wheelchair, at least 54†deep (from door to back of elevator), and 68†wide.
Call buttons and panel buttons are within reach of a wheelchair user (42†above the floor) and in Braille.
Elevators have an audible tone indicating up or down movement.
STAIRS have handrails in all buildings.
ALARMS have flashing lights as well as sound.
EXITS with ramps are available in case of fire.
Ideally, at least one WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM is available to event participants.
There are grab bars along one side of and in back of the accessible toilet.
There is a turning space of at least 5’x5’ in the restroom stalls.
The sink has 29†clearance from the floor to the bottom of the sink.
Hot water pipes are wrapped.
Towel dispensers are no higher than 40†from the floor.
When planning, consider the following:
Events with multiple sites: when more than one building is being used for an event, accessible transportation between sites may be needed.
SERVICE ANIMALS:
It is the law that service animals may accompany a person with a disability. Relief areas need to be available near the meeting site (close by, not across busy streets or traffic lanes).
ACCESSIBLE SLEEPING ROOMS:
Ask how many rooms there are with roll-in showers, rooms with grab bars in the bathrooms, shower chairs available if needed. Visual alarms and indicators and TTY’s should be available for use in rooms.
For participants who have a vision loss or who are blind, provide a guide to explain the site layout and walk them through the hotel and their rooms.
Check rooms for environmental sensitivity: no fluorescent lights, non-smoking.
DIETARY: Check with food service to insure that dietary restrictions are accommodated.
Check to see if rooms can have a refrigerator. If not, where can medications be stored?
Signage: add clear and simple signs for directions and room designations.
Dining: avoid buffet lines or provide assistance with carrying food.
Check for large print/Braille menus, or have someone available to read them if needed.
Tables:
Height should be between 28†and 34†above the floor
Have fewer spaces available at some tables to allow for wheelchair users, extra legroom, crutches, walkers, braces, casts, or service animals.
Seating must be integrated; not in a separate location.
Provide wider aisles between tables to accommodate people with disabilities using mobility devices.
Meeting Rooms:
Welcome each attendee. Do not put anyone on the spot. At the same time, ensure that assistance is available.
Make sure that rooms are well lit.
Design exhibits so that they may be touched or heard.
Leave adequate wheelchair space to maneuver around and through the exhibits.
Flooring needs to be firm and slip resistant to make maneuvering easier and less tiring.
Presenters:
Speaker area needs to be accessible to accommodate those with disabilities.
Have materials in alternative formats if requested: Braille, CD, audiotape or large
print.
Video materials should have open captioning and audio description.
If audio description is not included in video, provide an audio describer.
If captioning is not available, provide a transcript.
If theater, role-plays, sight gags, significant objects are used, provide an audio describer.
If song lyrics, schedules, etc. are displayed on a screen, provide alternative formats or an audio describer.
Power Point print-outs need to be legible, with large print (18 point in black on off-white paper) and sharp, contrasting colors.
All materials need to be delivered orally as well as in written form.
If a sign language interpreter has been requested, you will need 1 interpreter if the meeting is 2 hours or less. If it is longer, you will need 2 interpreters who will trade interpreting duties throughout the meeting.
Place the interpreter as close to the speaker as possible. When there are multiple speakers sitting at a table, place the interpreter across from the person(s) who is (are) deaf or hard of hearing.
Seat participants using a sign language interpreter near the front. Make sure that the interpreter can be easily seen by the participants who requested them.
Use real time captioning if requested.
Use a good quality sound system.
Make available assistive listening devices for participants who are hard of hearing.
Eliminate background noise to the greatest extent possible.
Inclusion is the foundation of the house. It is not a guarantee,
but rather a precondition for the growth and development
of full and healthy human beings.
A list of Illustrations in this guide:
Illustrations and graphics are scattered throughout this guide; they are used for both decoration and explanation of access. Listed below are those which illustrate access:
Page 5: picture of a wheelchair- accessible van
Page 6: decorative graphic containing many access symbols (Braille, ASL, TTY, etc.)
Page 7: picture of parking spaces and access aisles, includes measurements
Page 8: picture of basic features of an accessible route, includes measurements
Page 9: picture of minimum door width; one of the clear space needed to avoid
protruding objects, and another of an accessible drinking fountain. All pictures on this page include measurements
Page 10: picture of two phones; one at wheelchair height, the other a TTY
Page 11: picture of typical lavatory problems and their solutions, includes some
measurements
Page 12: picture of a standard accessible bathroom stall, includes measurements
Page 15: symbol used for assistive listening device
In addition, there are two graphics used several time in this guide. One is the
A2A logo, which consists of two capital A’s with the letter 2 between them, and the words “Accessible to All†underneath them. The other graphic shows two worshippers holding hands, facing each other beneath a cross. One kneels and the other uses a wheelchair; their heads are at equal heights. A large heart encompasses the worshipers and the cross.
Contact United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries for assistance.
Call toll free 1-866-822-8224.
Document compiled by Rev. Denise Thompson
