If your congregation is considering applying for an Accessible Faith Grant to make worship services and other activities in your facility more accessible to older adults, the following tips may assist you in making your decision and preparing an application.

1. Tips for All Applications
2. Tips for Construction Projects
3. Tips for Equipment Purchase and Installation
4. Resources

A. Tips for Completing All Applications

1. 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 to be for constructing a new building 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 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.
    
2. Share this tip sheet and the application form with the architects, engineers, contractors, or product vendors who are working with you. Ask them to assist you in making sure that the required information and attachments are included.
    
3. If other congregations or outside organizations regularly use your facility, try to include them in your planning process.
    
4. Selecting a qualified, reliable contractor is a critical part of your construction project's success. Usually your architect or engineer 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 may 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.
    
5. Provide a signed original and one copy of the application along with an original and one copy of all attachments, supplementary materials, and two sets of photos.
    
6. Do not submit applications in a ring binder, folder, with pages in plastic sleeves, or in any other binding or cover.

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B. Tips for Construction Projects

1. Do comparative shopping for an architect or engineer. Contact other congregations or businesses that have had accessibility renovations and ask about their architect or engineer. See a list of prior AFG grantees you may contact for information. Ask your architect or engineer 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.
    
2. The architect or engineer you work with must have a current license in Illinois and be willing and able to sign and stamp the drawings for the project. An architect or engineer from your congregation may not be willing or able to take on this responsibility and commit the required time and effort as a volunteer. Architect's and engineer's fees are a legitimate part of the project cost and should be included in the project budget.
    
3. If you have a budget for the project, share it with the architect or engineer. The architect or engineer should be aware of your congregation's financial status and potential for raising project funds. He or she should be aware that high-end design and finishes may not be appropriate.
    
4. 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.
    
5. 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.
    
6. It is very useful for you and/or your architect or engineer 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.
    
7. Installation of elevators, platform lifts, or inclined 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 or engineer to provide drawings showing that these items fit within the designated space. The drawings for inclined lifts must show that they do not result in fire code violations by excessively narrowing the width of the exit stairs.
    
8. 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 ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and 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 door is closed. This would affect the time and cost of the project. Note that some municipalities may have building code requirements that exceed ADAAG and IAC.
    
9. 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.
    
10. The project 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.
     
11. The detailed cost estimate for construction projects should include all applicable architectural and/or engineering fees, building permit fees, survey costs, and other expenses. Usually, the exact amount of building permit fees is not known until the permit application is in process, but you should include an estimate of the permit fee if your village or municipality is not waiving it.
     
12. 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.
     
13. Be sure to include several "before" photos of the space where the accessibility project will take place. These must be glossy prints, not photos on a CD or in an e-mail. Put your congregation's name and the current date on the back of each photo.

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C. Tips for Equipment Purchase and Installation

1. 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 who have done projects similar to yours.
    
2. 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 equipment you propose to purchase is installed. Ask the facility owners their opinion of the equipment and of the vendor.

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D. Resources

1. 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 or call 773-714-8080 to request a print copy.
    
2. Provided by The American Institute of Architects:
   http://www.aia.org
   Click on the box entitled "The Value of an Architect."
    
3. Provided by the National Organization on Disability:
   http://www.nod.org
   Under "Quick Links" on the right side of the page, click "Information and Resources." There are many useful links, including one for "Religion and Disability Programs."
    
4. Provided by Partners for Sacred Places:
   http://www.sacredplaces.org
   Click the link, "Information Center" and the link to the Chicago Office.
    
5. 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) and Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC).
   
   
6. Provided by Pathways Awareness:
   http://www.inclusioninworship.org
   This website has extensive information relating to accessibility and inclusion in worship of all denominations.
    
7. Provided by the Better Business Bureau:
   http://chicago.bbb.org/
   You may learn more about your architect, engineer, contractor, or equipment vendor at this site.

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