Barrier-Free World
Evaluating the environment is often viewed from the perspective of people with mobility
related disabilities. We often check to see that the doors have automated openers, or
that there is a curb ramp to allow a person using a wheelchair to access a sidewalk or
building from the street. But have you considered how noise affects a person who is
hard or hearing? Have you considered how noise affects a person with attention deficit?
So you see, accessibility requires looking into far more than whether you think a person
using a wheelchair can get into your building. Accessibility starts well before that point,
AND it includes the need to look at all types of disabilities equally.
There are two documents that are helpful if you are interested in performing your own
accessibility audit. The first if through the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) called
Accessible Design for Built Environment. This publication can be purchased for
approximately $75 (please verify with CSA at www.csa.ca if you are interested) that gives
a description of many circumstances that a person with a disability may come across
when in public and in private residences. The book is full of useful diagrams and
descriptions. Although, it only offers dimensions in millimeters, which many people have
difficulty relating to, so keep a metric converter handy or a tape measure that has both
metric and English dimensions.
A second document is taking Ontario by storm, called the Facility Accessibility Design
Standards (aka FADS). This document (pdf version) was published and released by
the City of London, Ontario and is available on the web. They freely permit the use of
the document and only ask that other municipalities acknowledge use of the instrument
by writing them a letter. Many municipalities in Ontario have selected the FADS as their
main document for accessibility. In some cases, the municipalities have modified or
adjusted the original document to meet their own needs. According to a representative
from the City of London, the FADS have breeched the Ontario borders and is being
used by cities and municipalities across the country.
For an easy assessment, here is the FADS checklist that you can use to do your own
assessment; http://www.london.ca/accessibility/Facilities_AssesmentForm.doc. This is
provided by the City of London on their website.
In addition to the above, there is, in Ontario, the Ontario Building Code. In theory, the
Code provides the minimum requirements for a building to be accessible. But
unfortunately there have been numerous new constructions and recent renovations that
we have audited that do not meet these minimum standards. It is clear the building
inspectors do not realized the importance of the criteria established that should at least
guarantee a minimum of accessibility.
When one looks at the size of the Ontario Building Code, it is hundreds of pages in
length, but only a half dozen pages are dedicated to accessibility issues it is no wonder
that little to no time appears to go into the inspection and approval of accessibility issues.
In Ontario, the AODA will soon provide additional guidance of what is considered
accessible. It is anticipated that in 2007 the Standards Development Committee on the
Built Environment will be established to create the legal requirements of what is
considered accessible in this province. Until then, the CSA standard and the FADS
should only be considered as guidelines.
Here are a few tips on accessibility:
See more on whether the building code is enough
related disabilities. We often check to see that the doors have automated openers, or
that there is a curb ramp to allow a person using a wheelchair to access a sidewalk or
building from the street. But have you considered how noise affects a person who is
hard or hearing? Have you considered how noise affects a person with attention deficit?
So you see, accessibility requires looking into far more than whether you think a person
using a wheelchair can get into your building. Accessibility starts well before that point,
AND it includes the need to look at all types of disabilities equally.
There are two documents that are helpful if you are interested in performing your own
accessibility audit. The first if through the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) called
Accessible Design for Built Environment. This publication can be purchased for
approximately $75 (please verify with CSA at www.csa.ca if you are interested) that gives
a description of many circumstances that a person with a disability may come across
when in public and in private residences. The book is full of useful diagrams and
descriptions. Although, it only offers dimensions in millimeters, which many people have
difficulty relating to, so keep a metric converter handy or a tape measure that has both
metric and English dimensions.
A second document is taking Ontario by storm, called the Facility Accessibility Design
Standards (aka FADS). This document (pdf version) was published and released by
the City of London, Ontario and is available on the web. They freely permit the use of
the document and only ask that other municipalities acknowledge use of the instrument
by writing them a letter. Many municipalities in Ontario have selected the FADS as their
main document for accessibility. In some cases, the municipalities have modified or
adjusted the original document to meet their own needs. According to a representative
from the City of London, the FADS have breeched the Ontario borders and is being
used by cities and municipalities across the country.
For an easy assessment, here is the FADS checklist that you can use to do your own
assessment; http://www.london.ca/accessibility/Facilities_AssesmentForm.doc. This is
provided by the City of London on their website.
In addition to the above, there is, in Ontario, the Ontario Building Code. In theory, the
Code provides the minimum requirements for a building to be accessible. But
unfortunately there have been numerous new constructions and recent renovations that
we have audited that do not meet these minimum standards. It is clear the building
inspectors do not realized the importance of the criteria established that should at least
guarantee a minimum of accessibility.
When one looks at the size of the Ontario Building Code, it is hundreds of pages in
length, but only a half dozen pages are dedicated to accessibility issues it is no wonder
that little to no time appears to go into the inspection and approval of accessibility issues.
In Ontario, the AODA will soon provide additional guidance of what is considered
accessible. It is anticipated that in 2007 the Standards Development Committee on the
Built Environment will be established to create the legal requirements of what is
considered accessible in this province. Until then, the CSA standard and the FADS
should only be considered as guidelines.
Here are a few tips on accessibility:
- Adding an automated door opener is acceptable.
- While this may be a good gesture, it is important to make sure that the automated
door opener is useful and convenient. Some sites we've visited had the door
controls mounted behind doors or planters, essentially hiding the control. Often,
the wrong kind of control is used. Just because it has a wheelchair symbol on it
doesn't mean that it is helpful to a person with a disability. Controls should be at
least 75mm x 25mm in size -- that is, the strike surface should be at least that
size. Having a large plate but only a small button in the centre may be too difficult
for a person with a disability to target and activate the mechanism. Many times a
person with a disability may use an adaptive device or a different part of their
body (such as their hip, or elbow) to try to activate the control; which may be more
difficult if the target is small.
- Offering a designated parking space will make it easier for a person with
a disability.
- First of all, how many of you even realize that many people with a disability drive?
And, what types of disabilities qualify to use the space?
- Remember, not everyone with a disability uses a wheelchair (see section: People
First). A person with a heart or lung condition may not show obvious signs of
having a disability, but walking from the parking lot to the front entrance of your
business may put a great deal of strain on the individual. It is best to check with
your local authority on the rules that pertain to accessible parking in your area --
these are governed by City Bylaws. But, if you are patrolling your parking lot,
then at least look to see whether the vehicle is displaying an approved parking
permit.
- Larger toilet stalls will make it easier for a person with a disability.
- There are many issues in an "accessible toilet stall" that need to be present in
order to make it accessible. First of all, the door should be a minimum of 810mm
wide in order to fit an average wheelchair through. The stall needs to be placed
in a location that a person using a wheelchair can easily access the entrance.
Ideally there is a door handle on the inside of the door so that a person can pull
the door shut and hold it in place while sliding the lock mechanism in place (sliding
locks are better than twist knobs or turn style locks). The door itself should
actually self-close, allowing the door to close automatically behind a person as
they enter -- reducing the need to turn a wheelchair around within the stall to
reach back and close the door.
- Know what criteria has been used to make your facility accessible.
- Remember, the building code is usually not sufficient to make a space truly
accessible.
- One hotel manager that we spoke with recently stated that their facility was brand
new and therefore there wasn't a need for an accessibility audit. Yet, they
couldn't tell us what criteria was used to establish whether the facility really was
accessible. Based on our quick walk through of their public spaces, they have
been misinformed. But at the same time the manager was unrelenting in his stand
that a new facility is automatically accessible. Then again, this is the same hotel
that asks potential new hires to identify whether they have a disability right on the
application form. (See section: Workplace Accommodation, that's not allowed!)
- How accessible is your place if it passes a building code inspection?
- You may be surprised to know that it is common for a building to pass the building
inspection, but still not be accessible -- even though, the Ontario Building Code
(for example) has a section dedicated to accessibility issues.
See more on whether the building code is enough
| Accessibility Audits |
| We are continuously updating this site. If you have suggestions or questions please email us at info@sterlingfrazer.com |
| Interested in learning more about accessibility audits? Follow this link for more information. |
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