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TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS

The information below may assist you in achieving the best outcome for your accessibility improvements.

Ramps

If your facility has an exterior ramp, you should shovel and salt it during the winter.  If the sidewalk or parking lot is plowed after a snowfall, make sure that the resulting snow piles do not obstruct access to the ramp. You should keep the ramp free of debris.  Vehicles, decorative items, or dumpsters should not even temporarily block the area at the bottom of the ramp.  Keep the landing at the top of the ramp clear to allow for emergency exit.  Implementing these measures will reduce difficulty for congregants or visitors who use the ramp and also reduce your potential for liability due to accidents.  

Accessible Restrooms/Toilet Stalls

Keep accessible restroom fixtures in operable condition.  Ask congregation members and your staff to report broken items as soon as they are observed so they can be repaired or replaced quickly.  In many cases, a person who needs an accessible restroom is not able to use a standard restroom when the accessible one is not in service.

When making restroom renovations or repairs, be aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC) do not usually require special fixtures often marketed as “accessible,” such as gooseneck faucets, blade faucet hardware, or tilt mirrors.  These are often more costly and more prone to breakage or vandalism than conventional fixtures.  When installed or mounted according to guidelines in ADAAG and IAC, with which your architect or engineer should be familiar, standard faucets, push button or automatic faucet hardware, and flat mirrors all meet accessibility requirements.

Do not use the accessible restroom or toilet stall as a storage closet.  Every inch of floor space is needed for someone who is using a wheelchair, walker, or other mobility aid.

Elevators or Lifts

If you install an elevator or lift, a warranty and maintenance plan for a specific duration should be included as part of the installation package.  When these have expired, it is essential to continue with regular inspection and maintenance even if your municipality does not require them.

Encourage use of the lift or elevator by those who need it.  It is more likely for mechanical or hydraulic equipment to be damaged by long periods of idleness rather than by more frequent and appropriate use.

Do not place planters, wastebaskets, or ashtrays under the elevator call buttons.  This area must be kept clear so that a person using a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility aid can reach the buttons.

Assistive Listening Systems

Post notices in easily visible locations to inform congregants and visitors that an assistive listening system with headsets is available for better listening.  Describe how someone can obtain a headset to use during the service or program, and where to return it after use.  Since the term “assistive listening system” may not be familiar to many people who have a hearing loss, feel free to describe it in other language, such as “Audio Boosters.” 

Increasing Awareness of Accessibility

It is important to inform outside organizations that want to, or must, use accessible locations for their programs or activities about the increased accessibility of your facility.  Polling places, health agencies, social service agencies, or other bodies that receive government funding are examples of entities that have legal obligations to provide services in accessible locations.  Also, many outside organizations now recognize that their audience or number of participants may increase if their venue is accessible.  Thus, your accessible space may become more marketable and an opportunity for increasing your revenue. 

Your congregation may not be familiar with some of the new accessible features or equipment.  Some people who could benefit from increased accessibility may feel awkward about using new features or equipment or may feel singled out by doing so.  To avoid this and ensure that you achieve the full benefits of your project , it is helpful to include an orientation to the new features or equipment.  Encourage members of the congregation to try them out.  Many people using an assistive listening system for the first time are surprised at the improvement it provides.  Emphasize that the purpose of the renovations and equipment is to increase participation and inclusiveness in all services and activities in your facility.  

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(Rev. 1/08)