If your congregation is considering applying for an Accessible Faith Grant to make activities in your facility more accessible to older adults, the following tips may assist you in making your decision and preparing an application.
A. Tips for All Applications
- Keep in mind that Accessible Faith Grants provide partial funding toward the cost of removing barriers or installing accessibility-related equipment in an existing building. Grants are not intended for constructing a new building, a major addition, or for an overall facility renovation that includes many elements unrelated to accessibility.The Accessible Faith Grant Program supports stand-alone accessibility improvements that are intentional rather than ones that, as part of a major new construction or overall large-scale renovation project, would be required under the provisions of the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC). The IAC is available at http://www.cdb.state.il.us/IAC.shtml. See primarily Subpart F on Page 105 for guidelines on the types and scope of projects that would not meet Accessible Faith Grant Program intentions. Your architect should be able to give you more information about this. You may also contact The Retirement Research Foundation if you have questions about this matter.
- Share this tip sheet and the application form with the architects, engineers, contractors, or product vendors/vendors who are working with you. Ask them to assist you in making sure that the required information and attachments are included.
- Provide a signed original and one copy of the application along with an original and one copy of all attachments and supplementary materials.
- Include one set of printed photos showing where the accessibility project will take place. Make sure the name of the congregation and current date are written on back of photos. Identify what the photo is, e.g., current women’s restroom, stairs at building entrance. etc.
- Make sure the checklist on pages eight and nine of the application is filled in and submitted with the application.
- Do not submit applications in a ring binder, folder, with pages in plastic sleeves, or any other binding or cover.
B. Special Tips for Construction Projects
- Do comparative shopping for an architect. Contact other congregations or businesses that have had accessibility renovations and ask about their architect. See a list of prior AFG grantees you may contact for information. Ask your architect for references of similar projects he or she has done and then contact those references to find out if they were satisfied with the outcome of the work.
- The architect must have a current license in Illinois and be willing and able to sign and stamp the drawings for the project. A volunteer architect from your congregation may not be willing or able to take on this responsibility and commit the required time and effort. Architect’s fees are a legitimate part of the project cost and should be included in the project budget given in item E.2.a of the application.
- If you have developed a tentative budget for the project, share it with the architect and contractor. They should be aware of your congregation’s financial status and potential for raising project funds and should be aware that high-end design and finishes may not be appropriate.
- Accessibility improvements should be designed to be as integrated as possible into the existing facility. For example, if you install an entrance ramp or an automatic door, efforts should be made to locate it at the main entrance, if feasible, rather than relegating it to a back or side entrance.
- The design of accessible features such as ramps, accessible restrooms, etc. should be sensitive to the existing architecture. Most of the time, an architect can design these items to blend in well with the existing facility, even if it is a historic building.
- It is very useful for you and/or your architect to meet with building code officials in your municipality at the early stages of the design process to discuss the project and identify issues that may arise in obtaining a building permit.
- Installation of elevators, platform lifts, or inclined platform lifts, modifications to plumbing and electrical systems, and any structural changes are considered construction projects because they require building permits. It is necessary for an architect to provide drawings showing that these items fit within the designated space and do not result in any building code violations.
- The preliminary plans or drawings you submit with your application should be small format drawings (8½ x 11 inches, 11 x 14 inches, or 14 x 20 inches). Do not submit the large, full set of construction documents or blueprints. Drawings must have actual dimensions (measurements) on them. For example, it is not sufficient simply to show a restroom sketch with the note “All measurements should meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.” The drawings must show that The US Department of Justice ADA Standards for Accessible Design 2010 (DOJ 2010) and The Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC) requirements can be met within the available space. Taking measurements and providing the actual dimensions in drawings might reveal that the project is more complex than first anticipated. For example, it might show that the restroom sink/lavatory must be moved from its current location in order to allow the required wheelchair turning radius when the restroom door is closed. This would affect the time and cost of the project. Note that some municipalities may have building code requirements that exceed DOJ 2010 and IAC.
- Elevators and lifts must have regular maintenance in order to keep them safe and operable. Maintenance contracts are annual expenses for the life of the equipment. When planning for elevator or lift installation projects, find out from the vendors what the typical maintenance costs are so you can prepare for them in future annual budgets.
- For most projects, the cost estimate should contain a category called “contingency,” which may range from 5% to 15% of the cost. This is a built-in cushion to cover costs that cannot be anticipated before the project starts.
- The detailed cost estimate for construction projects should include all applicable architectural and/or engineering fees, building permit fees, survey costs, and other expenses.
- In some municipalities, not-for-profit organizations such as religious congregations may have building permit fees reduced or waived. Discuss this with your alderman, village council representative, and/or building code official as early in the project as possible.
- Selecting a qualified, reliable contractor is a critical part of your construction project’s success. Usually your architect will help guide you in the process of obtaining and reviewing bids from contractors.The contractor’s cost is a very large investment on your part. We urge you and your architect to gather as much information as possible in making a decision on a contractor. You may wish to check with prior Accessible Faith grantees to learn about the experiences they had with their contractors. You should also consider contacting sources like the Better Business Bureau for information on potential contractors. At the time you submit your application, your construction project may not be at the stage where you have already selected a contractor. In that case, you should describe the process you will use to select one.
- Include one set of printed photos showing where the accessibility project will take place. Make sure the congregation name and current date are written on back of photos. Identify what the photo is, e.g., current women’s restroom, stairs at building entrance, etc.
- You must complete the checklist on pages eight and nine of the application form. If you believe that an item does not apply to your project, you may indicate N/A for that item and explain why it is not applicable.
C. Special Tips for Equipment Purchase and Installation Projects
- If you are purchasing equipment such as an assistive listening system, work with your congregation’s Building Committee or other members of the congregation to do advance research. Seek estimates from more than one vendor. Ask for references and contact them to learn if they were satisfied with the work done by the vendor or installer you are considering. See a list of prior grantees that have done projects similar to yours. Check sources such as the Better Business Bureau for information on the vendor or installer.
- Observe the equipment in use. For example, ask the vendor to arrange for a site visit where an assistive listening system, automatic door opener, or other equipment you propose to purchase is installed. Ask the facility owners their opinion of the equipment and of the vendor.
- You must complete the checklist on pages eight and nine of the application form. If you believe that an item does not apply to your project, you may indicate N/A for that item and explain why it is not applicable.
D. Resources
- The Retirement Research Foundation has published two resources for understanding accessibility requirements: Accessible Faith: A Technical Guide for Accessibility in Houses of Worship and Accessible Faith in Illinois. The first booklet includes a comprehensive section entitled “The Accessibility Design Process” that can help your congregation conduct a needs assessment and begin an accessibility planning process. There is also an extensive bibliography. These guides may be downloaded here.
- Provided by The American Institute of Architects:
http://www.aia.org
On the home page, click on the link ”The Value of an Architect.” - Provided by Partners for Sacred Places:
http://www.sacredplaces.org
Click the link, “Information Center” and the link to the Chicago Office and also the link to the Information Center. - Provided by The Great Lakes ADA and Information Technology Center:
http://www.adagreatlakes.org
Links to various government and other accessibility publications and technical assistance resources, including ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), the US Department of Justice 2010 ADA Standards, and the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC). - Provided by Pathways Awareness:
http://www.inclusioninworship.org
This website has extensive information relating to accessibility and inclusion in worship for all denominations. - Provided by the Better Business Bureau:
http://chicago.bbb.org/
You may learn more about a Chicago metro area and Northern Illinois architect, engineer, contractor, or equipment vendor at this site.
- Provided by the Illinois Attorney General Disability Rights Bureau:
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/rights/disabilityrights.html
This website has information on the Illinois Environmental Barriers Act as well as other information about protecting the rights of people with disabilities.