Advantages
According to Ocken (2013), there are several advantages to making parks ADA compliant. Since children of all ages, and individual adults enjoy parks, making them as a compliant as possible allows for a playful and exciting time for a wide range of abilities. One of the key aspect is getting involvement from the community on what they would like to see included in the areas within the park. The objective is to create a park that is inclusive and encourages each and every individual to want to play in that particular environment, and enjoy it (p.1). For this reason, the resident of Homestead, Florida will need to clearly identify how James Archer Smith Park can be made compliant with individuals with disabilities. Presently, the park includes playgrounds and other services such as entrances, handrails, etc., which for the purposes of this assessment, will be the focus of recommendations and current barriers that exist.
Barriers
Gametime (2012) notes that these components should reach up to 44" for ages 9-12; up to 40" for those between the ages of 6-8 and up to 36" for 3-4 year olds (p.1). The measurements did not adequately meet these standards. The surveyor believes that the reason for this is that the playground at the park has not begun to comply with the 2012 changes. Since the James Archer Smith Park is not new to the area of Homestead, Florida, this was the reasoning that the surveyor operated under in the assessment of the playground structures and their appropriate compliance for individuals with disabilities. Further, there appear to have been play areas that did not have the necessary standards associated with accessible play components and the various criteria for how many should be elevated. As such, there could be many issues related to whether certain individuals with disabilities could sufficiently play on certain areas of the playground. While the playground did have its advantages, the barriers did and continue to present a problem.
Additional barriers associated with the park extend beyond the playground area. First, the surveyor found that an accessible entrance did not sufficiently provide direct access to the lobby, main floor and elevator as it should. Regarding the running slope not being steeper than 1:20 as stated by ADA (2010, 2012), there was no running slope found. With respect to the public areas such as drinking fountains and the like, there were many objects that were more than 4 inches that were found to protrude. With respect to the ramps, according to ADA (2010, 2012), they should be at least 36 inches wide. The ramp measured close to 36 inches wide, but was not exactly that. The surveyor also found that many of the ramps either did not have sufficient handrails in terms of the gripping surfaces, or handrails at all. When looking at the multifaceted amount of disabilities that individuals have, the surveyor found it necessary to examine the signage, or lack thereof. Some of the signs at the park were not mounted sufficiently. There were a few rooms in the park that also did not meet sufficient ADA standards in terms of clearance.
Accessibility Recommendations
Per ADA (2010, 2012) standards discussed under 28 CFR 35.151 regarding new construction and alterations, as well as 105.2.3 regarding playgrounds, the following are recommendations that are needed for the park to become completely ADA compliant.
Playgrounds
Under ADA standard #105.2.3, it states that there should be certain characteristics that provide a safe surface both around and under equipment. Under this standard, there is also an inclusion of ensuring equipment is designed that does not restrict or constrict those who may need to use it. In the survey that was conducted, the play areas themselves should be readjusted in order to be at least 60" wide. Additionally, there should be sufficient standards for the mentioned previously sensory components, in terms of meeting the particular age group requirements.
Other Goods & Services
The largest areas that tended to be of problem were those not related to the playground. Under 28 CFR 35.151, the following changes should be made to be ADA compliant. First, there should be an accessible route created. There should be no reason why the park's entrance does not have direct access to the lobby, main floor, and elevator for those individuals with disabilities. In addition to this, there should also be new construction done on the objects that protruded near areas where drinking fountains and the like were found. In doing this, those individuals with ADA disabilities would not be hampered by them. Also, the ramps appeared to be the largest area in need of changing. Specifically, the surveyor recommends that there should be newly constructed handrails placed on the ramps that meet the ADA (2010, 2012) requirements of at least 36 inches wide.
There should also be more than sufficient gripping surfaces. With respect to signage, the surveyor suggests that the park construct new signs as noted under 28 CFR 35.151, so there can be an understanding by those with disabilities of what areas are what. It is important to note that the park did have compliance with individuals who are blind as each sign had sufficient braille present. There is also a need for the park to examine the various areas in their conference rooms and other areas that do not have proper opening space for those in wheelchairs. In making these recommendations, it can be stated that the park will be completely ADA compliant, rather than compliant in some areas.
Global Review of Disability & Accessibility
Question 1
It would seem as though the American with Disabilities Act has substantially affected society. Since the ADA protects individuals against discrimination and prevents discriminatory practices, there is a responsibility that the act puts on those in society who do not have disabilities - in acting right and promoting equality. The idea behind the ADA was and remains inclusion. This spans across multiple industries and affects various aspects of everyday life. As noted by APA (2016), the ADA must be complied by each and every business, agency and organization that provides a particular service to the general public; should be instituted in all public related facilities such as parks; and any entity that has more than 14 employees working for it. There are significant requirements associated with the act that should also be adhered to such as sign language compliance, ramp installation, where applicable and making alternative forms of testing and job employment possible (p.1). Basically, the ADA is essential to a functional society because it allows every individual to operate within one accord – meaning there is no preferential treatment given.
While it might be argued that those with disabilities are receiving special treatment with the handrails, signage, etc. by detractors and critics, it is important that the federal government provide access and take responsibility that everyone is not as fortunate. In addition to this, those in society must also have more compassion than they do currently for those who have disabilities. There are enough challenges that these individuals have to handle, let alone issues related to the ADA.
Question 2
The country selected was Iceland. The country has taken considerable measures to ensure that those with disabilities are afforded an equality of rights and a particular standard of living that is comparable to those who would be classified as being able to live a life that is normal. One act in particular, identified as the Act on the Affairs of Disable People, No. 59/1992, is governed by certain sections and articles that explain and discuss the necessary operations of how individuals with disabilities are to be treated in the country. There are specific guidelines and notations made regarding what mental and physical disabilities mean and how they apply under the particular act (Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, 2016). It would appear when comparing Iceland to the United States that both countries believe that individuals with disabilities should be afforded the same opportunities in terms of rights as those without. This is the primary similarity that was observed when comparing the two countries. Iceland proposes an extensive amount of articles listed in the mentioned Act on the Affairs of Disable People, No. 59/1992 as well as the Law on the Service and Information Center for the Blind, Visually impaired and the Deafblind No. 160/2008, which discusses how the blind and hearing impaired are to be treated.
Question 3
Arguably, society has become much more accepting of those with disabilities - or are at a minimum, starting to. For example, many employers are acknowledging those individuals with disabilities and not holding them to a lesser or higher standard. Many countries, the United States and Iceland, included are recognizing that these individuals are just like everyone else in terms of wanting to essentially, live their lives. It is true that society has some ways to go in terms of effectively complying with the various standards as observed by the survey of James Archer Smith Park, but as the saying goes, society is not where it once was in terms of how it handles and deals with abiding by disabilities act guidelines and parameters.
Question 4
The sports world can have a substantial impact on those with disabilities by working to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of those with disabilities, and changing the attitudes that many in society have about those with disabilities. There should be a continual promotion of social awareness in society about how these individuals are the same as the rest of 'us' in terms of wanting to live a normal life, or as normal as possible. The sports world has a responsibility to showcase individuals with disabilities who play sports. These events should become more mainstream than they currently are, so as to better promote equality.
Manager's Name
300 NW 12th St
Homestead, FL 33030
Dear [Name of Manager],
Thank you for assisting with this learning opportunity. I was able to take away a few positive aspects from surveying the park.
1) There is a significant importance for individuals with disabilities to feel as though they can come to the park and be able to use the services without issue.
2) Facilities managers such as yourself are willing to make the necessary changes to ensure that individuals with disabilities understand that they are like those individuals without disabilities in terms of equality.
3) Learning more about the Americans with Disabilities Act allowed me to make a proper survey of where the park offers advantages to those individuals with disabilities and what needs to be changed accordingly.
I thank you again for your time and assistance!
Sincerely,
References
ADA. (2010). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice website: http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#c10
ADA Checklist. (2012). Retrieved from Gametime website: http://www.gametime.com/resources/ada-checklist/
ADA Standards for Accessible Design. (2012). Retrieved from ADA website: http://www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm
The Americans With Disabilities Act and How It Affects Psychologists. (2016). Retrieved from APA (American Psychological Association) website: http://www.apa.org/pi/disability/resources/publications/ada.aspx
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. (2016). Retrieved from http://dredf.org/legal-advocacy/international-disability-rights/international-laws/
Ocken, J. R. (2013). Let's Play Together! Retrieved from Recreation Management website: http://recmanagement.com/feature_print.php?fid=201301fe01
