Infosheet

What This Checklist is Not This checklist does not cover all of the requirements of the Standards; therefore, it is not for facilities undergoing new construction or alterations. In ad- dition, it does not attempt to illustrate all possible barriers or propose all possible barrier removal solutions. The Standards should be consulted for guidance in situations not covered here. The Title III regulation covers more than barrier re- moval, but this checklist does not cover Title III's requirements for nondiscriminatory policies and practices and for the provision of auxiliary commu- nication aids and services. The communication fea- tures covered are those that are structural in nature. Priorities This checklist is based on the four priorities recom- mended by the Title III regulations for planning readily achievable barrier removal projects: Priority 1: Accessible approach and entrance Priority 2: Access to goods and services Priority 3: Access to rest rooms Priority 4: Any other measures necessary Note that the references to ADAAG throughout the checklist refer to the Standards for Accessible Design. How to Use This Checklist ✓ Get Organized: Establish a time frame for com- pleting the survey. Determine how many copies of the checklist you will need to survey the whole facility. Decide who will conduct the survey. It is strongly recommended that you invite two or three additional people, including people with various disabilities and accessibility expertise, to assist in identifying barriers, developing solutions for removing these barriers, and setting priorities for implementing improvements. ✓ Obtain Floor Plans: It is very helpful to have the building floor plans with you while you survey. If plans are not available, use graph paper to sketch the layout of all interior and exterior spaces used by your organization. Make notes on the sketch or plan while you are surveying. ✓ Conduct the Survey: Bring copies of this check- list, a clipboard, a pencil or pen, and a flexible steel Checklist for Existing Facilities version 2.1 © revised August 1995, Adaptive Environments Center, Inc. for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. For technical assistance, call 1-800-949-4ADA (voice/TDD). 3 tape measure. With three people surveying, one person numbers key items on the floor plan to match with the field notes, taken by a second per- son, while the third takes measurements. Be sure to record all dimensions! As a reminder, questions that require a dimension to be measured and recorded are marked with the ruler symbol. Think about each space from the perspective of people with physical, hearing, visual, and cognitive disabilities, noting areas that need improvement. ✓ Summarize Barriers and Solutions: List barriers found and ideas for their removal. Consider the solutions listed beside each question, and add your own ideas. Consult with building contractors and equipment suppliers to estimate the costs for mak- ing the proposed modifications. ✓ Make Decisions and Set Priorities: Review the summary with decision makers and advisors. Decide which solutions will best eliminate barriers at a reasonable cost. Prioritize the items you decide upon and make a timeline for carrying them out. Where the removal of barriers is not readily achiev- able, you must consider whether there are alterna- tive methods for providing access that are readily achievable. ✓ Maintain Documentation: Keep your survey, notes, summary, record of work completed, and plans for alternative methods on file. ✓ Make Changes: Implement changes as planned. Always refer directly to the Standards and your state and local codes for complete technical require- ments before making any access improvement. Ref- erences to the applicable sections of the Standards are listed at the beginning of each group of ques- tions. If you need help understanding the federal, state, or local requirements, contact your Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center. ✓ Follow Up: Review your Implementation Plan each year to re-evaluate whether more improvements have become readily achievable. To obtain a copy of the Title III regulations and the Standards or other technical information, call the U.S. Dept. of Justice ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 Voice, (202) 514-0381 TDD, or (800) 514-0383 TDD. For questions about ADAAG, contact the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board at (800) USA-ABLE.

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