APPENDIX A: ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST
The following checklist can help you in choosing a building for your event or minimizing physical barriers in the building you have chosen.
1. Entrance
- Does the entrance have steps, a threshold, or other physical barriers? If so, is there a ramp to enable someone in a wheelchair to enter the building?
- Are the doors wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
- Can the doors be opened by someone in a wheelchair? If they are heavy or difficult to open, you may want to have staff available to assist.
- If the main entrance is not accessible by wheelchair, is there an alternate wheelchair accessible entrance? If so, is there signage clearly indicating the location of the alternate wheelchair accessible entrance?
- If the entrance is accessible by means of a lift, is the lift in good working condition? If the lift is operated by a key, do event staff have possession of the key? Is there someone available who knows how to operate the lift?
2. Path of travel
to the building entrance:
- Is there a path of travel accessible by wheelchair from the street to the event location which will enable people in wheelchairs to reach the building in which the event is located?
- Are sidewalks even and in good repair?
- Are there curb cuts?
- Are sidewalks clear of ice, snow, or other debris?
3. Parking
- If parking is provided as part of your event, are "disabled parking" spaces provided as well?
4. Path of travel
within the building
- Is there a level path of travel from the wheelchair accessible entrance to the room or rooms where the event is located? If there is not, are there ramps to enable someone in a wheelchair to reach the event? Lifting someone over steps or stairs is not an acceptable solution for access to the event location.
- Are corridors and door widths adequate for passage of a wheelchair?
- Are pathways which might be used during the event free of obstacles or protruding objects?
- If the event is on a floor above the ground level, is there an elevator which can accommodate a wheelchair user? Is the location of this elevator clearly indicated?
5. Restrooms
- If there are restrooms for the general public, are there also wheelchair accessible restrooms in the same location? If not, are there wheelchair accessible restrooms within a reasonable proximity? If so, is the location of the wheelchair accessible restrooms clearly indicated?
- If there are no wheelchair accessible restrooms, you may want to consider another location for your event.
6. Refreshments
- If food is served at the event, is the food service accessible to a person in a wheelchair or with another type of mobility impairment?
- If the serving is buffet, can a wheelchair user negotiate the spaces around and between the tables?
- Are food and accessories at a level which can be reached by someone in a wheelchair?
- If these conditions are not part of the food service arrangement, you may want to consider how to assist people who may have difficulties with serving themselves.
7. Other amenities
- If the event location offers public telephones and drinking fountains,
are there also telephones and fountains that are accessible to a person
in a wheelchair? If not, you may want to think about how people with
disabilities can be assisted in using these amenities.
- If your event makes use of a box office, registration tables, or
information booths, are these at an accessible height for a person
in a wheelchair? If not, you may want to prepare alternative ways
for people with disabilities to purchase tickets, register, or obtain
information.
- If writing surfaces are needed, are they at a wheelchair accessible
height? If not, an alternative, such as a clipboard, might be provided.
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