Many people take freedom of movement for granted and are unaware of the accessibility regulations of our built environment. But as soon as one experiences even a temporary injury, using a cane, wheelchair or scooter, for example, can present unexpected challenges.
Navigating transportation, curb ramps, table height, toilet facilities … all become acutely important when living with a physical disability. Accessibility to malls, restaurants, assembly areas, schools, recreation areas, hotels, office buildings and other locations make daily living active and productive. Without it, a person’s quality of life can be greatly affected.
The Accessibility Services program of United Spinal Association understands the importance of accessibility and takes pride in making the built environment welcoming to all.
Accessibility Services recently hosted an American Institute of Architects (AIA) registered continuing education seminar to review the new 2010 ADA standards for accessible design, covering Florida and federal law. They host these types of trainings throughout the year nationwide, online and in-firm.
The Buena Vista Palace Hotel in Orlando provided a central location for the architects, building owners, municipal managers, ADA coordinators, and other professionals charged with determining if a built environment complies with ADA requirements, attending the seminar.
Understanding the legal and practical applications of accessible design can be daunting. Accessibility Services provides the expertise to guide the design of built environments for the future upon which we can all depend.
Whether it’s Yankee Stadium, the Tropicana Plant in Bradenton, American Airlines Arena in Miami, or a small business, Accessibility Services assists property owners and designers across the country in navigating the myriad of building codes at both the state and federal level via plan review services, site assessments and training.
Accessibility Services brings together a unique group of highly skilled professionals, including certified accessibility specialists, architects, attorneys and code enforcement officials that ensure the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are in compliance when consulting on a building project.
Its staff isn’t only knowledgeable about accessibility laws and standards, they are also personally familiar with the types of difficulties people living with disabilities, such as wheelchair users, face daily to access their city or town.
Photo by Ahvi Spindell
Jennifer Perry leads accessibility seminar in Orlando, FL with the clarity and ease
only a seasoned expert and talented teacher could provide.
ADA design standards can be very dry material, but Jennifer Perry, who has been with United Spinal since 1998, led the 4-hour seminar with the clarity and ease only a seasoned expert and talented teacher could provide. Even for a lay observer, Ms. Perry’s presentation proved interesting and compelling.
“As a program of United Spinal, we take a very active two-pronged approach to serve our disability community by helping to develop accessibility standards, and then going out across the country and training those responsible for implementing the codes,” said Ms. Perry.
“If a building is constructed and accessibility is overlooked, it can have a huge impact on those who need access,” she added.
Photo by Ahvi Spindell
Ms. Perry covered a wide range of new and updated information including the differences between the Florida Accessibility Code and the 2010 ADA Standards.
Here’s a short list of some of the topics Ms. Perry covered that will have a real world impact for people with mobility challenges in the very near future:
- Accessible parking
- New requirements for recreation facilities (swimming pools, public parks, etc.)
- Employee work areas
- Commercial facilities
- Interior and exterior accessible routes (including accessible doors)
- Building blocks of accessibility (clear floor space, protruding objects, reach range requirements, etc.)
Ms. Gay Geiger of KBJ Architects, Inc. attended the seminar with a co-worker because they were in need of Continuing Education Units. “The location was perfect as we are both on a jobsite in the Lake Buena Vista area,” she said, adding, “The specific references to our Florida code were most valuable.”
After the seminar, Ms. Geiger commented, “I have been to accessibility seminars in the past but they were conducted by architects. I felt this seminar was presented from the users’ point of view, not from an analytical interpretation-of-the-words point of view.”
For upcoming training programs, more information about consulting services and projects, visit www.accessibility-services.com.
Ahvi Spindell
Media Relations
United Spinal Association
Further Reading: United Spinal Schools Temple University Occupational Therapy Students on Accessibility; Helping To Make Culture Accessible
