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 Access
Today, Fall 2004 - Special Volume, Issue 13 |
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By Susan Ostby and Jennifer Skulski,
For people with disabilities, participating in recreation can have lasting impact that significantly improves their quality of life. However, the accessibility of a recreation program or facility can affect the individual's experience and overall satisfaction with the experience. One of the most frequently asked questions to NCPAD and NCA is, "where can I find accessible recreation opportunities?" This article will guide visitors in their search for accessible recreation facilities and programs. We will explore some areas where you can conduct initial searches for programs, who to contact and what questions to ask before arriving at your recreation destination. Background on Access to Recreation Facilities & Programs Federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) require facilities to be accessible to people with disabilities. For example, all newly constructed parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, museums, theaters, federal buildings, government facilities, and places of public accommodation are required to comply with federal accessibility design guidelines. In addition, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the ADA require programs and services to be made accessible to people with disabilities. Programs and services provided by the federal government, units of state and local government, along with private businesses, are prohibited from discriminating against people with disabilities. For example, a person who is blind or visually impaired must receive the same opportunities and benefits from a program as a person who is sighted. To achieve this, the site will need to use effective communication to convey interpretive, safety and site design information. (For more information, see Recreation Access Rights under the ADA by John N. McGovern, JD, http://www.ncaonline.org/ncpad/rights.shtml) To assist in understanding the physical accessibility of a site; visitors with disabilities should become familiar with the accessibility guidelines developed by the U.S. Access Board. These guidelines are available online at www.access-board.gov and cover physical access to buildings as well as recreation environments. For assistance applying these guidelines to a recreational activity or facility, contact the National Center on Accessibility (www.ncaonline.org). Where to look A number of organizations collect and promote accessible recreation, sports, travel, and tourism opportunities. However, a comprehensive clearinghouse of information on the vast subject of leisure or physical activity does not exist. Thus, people interested in pursuing recreational opportunities or new areas of interest may need to search more specifically to that area of interest. There are some "starting points" in every community to link you to new areas of leisure interests. The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability has developed a database of programs related to physical activity and disability. The database is available online and searchable by state. An individual with a disability, family member or caregiver can search for program opportunities in their local community.www.ncpad.org Community guides
Travel guides Whether by plane, train or automobile, people with disabilities travel the nation and the globe in search of the perfect destination. It is valuable then, that some advocacy organizations and magazines have included travel tips and destination reviews on their web sites and as regularly featured articles in their publications. PN (Paraplegia
News) Magazine, this publication of the Paralyzed Veterans
Association provides news and information to people who use wheelchairs.
Information on accessible travel destinations is included in the
feature entitled Travel Tips. Emerging Horizons:
Accessible Travel News is an accessible travel magazine with a
focus on travelers with mobility impairments. The Emerging Horizons
web site also contains a searchable database of accessible travel
destinations. The Society for Accessible Travel
and Hospitality(SATH) is a non-profit membership organization
focusing on expanding travel opportunities for people with disabilities.
Information on the SATH website includes travel tips, information
for travel agents, and airline accessibility. Access-able Travel Source
is an online resource for accessible destinations, transportation,
travel agents, and stories from travelers with disabilities.
Many large cities like San Diego, Atlanta and New Orleans have great recreational opportunities such as museums, theaters, sports venues, shopping and dining. A number of large cities now have accessibility guide booklets informing potential visitors as to the accessibility of various attractions in the area. AAA Travel Guide The renowned AAA Motor Club has published travel guides for many years. AAA now features a series of travel guides to large cities highlighting accessible destinations in each of the cities. Check your local AAA Motor Club or bookstore for the travel guides. Convention & visitors bureaus
Official Travel Guide International Association of Convention
and Visitors Bureaus National and state parks, forests and wildlife refuges From Arcadia National Park and the Appalachian Mountains to Yellowstone and Yosemite, there are plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities in your own background or any place you would like to travel to in the country. Several federal, state and local land management agencies print park and facility guides which specifically detail the accessible features at each attraction. National Park Service USDA Forest Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers State Departments
of Natural Resources Park and recreation departments The National Recreation and Park Association is the national membership organization of more than 2,100 community park and recreation providers in the United States. Check the yellow pages of your phone book under "recreation" for your local park and recreation department. Or search NRPA's directory for park and recreation agencies in your state. Schools, local colleges Colleges and universities throughout the nation provide fee-based recreation activities, including fitness and wellness programs. These activities are available to the public as well as to students, faculty, and staff of the college. Colleges also have opportunities for the sports enthusiast to catch exciting intercollegiate contests in their area of interest including football, basketball, and track and field. For those interested in the cultural arts, many college campuses also include museums of art or natural history, musical arts centers, auditoriums, and theaters. Community centers and Y's
YMCA YWCA Boys & Girls Clubs Special interest groups and private clubs Perhaps you already have an interest in taking up a particular recreational activity like water skiing, mountain biking or scrap booking. Many activities such as these have local community groups and private clubs center on bringing together people with similar interest. The easiest place to start your search is in the Yellow Pages under your topic of interest like kayaking, running or skiing. Two other places to make inquiries: your local park and recreation department and local sporting goods store. Many local park and recreation departments have working relationships with special interests groups especially if the group uses a facility of the parks department. Your local park and recreation department can get you the contact information for groups like the local figure skaters club and men's garden club. If your area of interest uses sports equipment, networking with the local sporting goods stores is also a good start. Sporting goods store staff working in the bike department may be able to tell you where some of the best bike trails are in the surrounding community, while other staff in the running apparel department can tell you about the local running clubs, fun runs and mini-marathons coming up on the calendar.Who to contact Before venturing out on an excursion or getting started in any recreational activity, most park visitors with disabilities and their companions want to know the accessibility of a recreation facility or program before they arrive. This will require the visitors to identify their recreation interests and then contact the recreation provider directly to ask about accessibility, via telephone/TTY or e-mail.When calling the recreation provider, the visitors should ask to speak with the person responsible for the accessibility or inclusion of the program or facility, and indicate that they, or their companion, have a disability. The person responsible for the accessibility program should know accessibility features of the facility and programs and be eager to answer questions. The accessibility coordinator can also work with the visitor and program staff to ensure any necessary program modifications or accommodations occur before the visitor's arrival. Often, it is not as simple as calling the facility or program and asking the first person one speaks with "Is the swimming pool and swim lesson program accessible?" because that person may not be knowledgeable about accessibility. The person who answers the phone may respond, "yes, it is accessible" to all questions regarding accessibility, but they may not be trained to identify accessibility features according to federal guidelines. The process of getting the right person on the phone may take longer than anticipated, but it is well worth the effort. Questions to ask Once contact is made with appropriate facility or program staff, the next step is to ask questions specific to the individual's needs. These questions should focus on elements the visitor feels will enable participation and enjoyable use of the facility or program. While people with similar impairments (physical, sensory, cognitive) may have similar concerns and questions, this is not always the case. The needs of each individual are unique and may require a different level of access. To illustrate this point, consider an interpreter-led nature walk. A person with a hearing impairment may ask if an assistive listening system is available, while another may ask if the interpreter's discussion points are available in text. A visitor who is deaf may ask if a sign language interpreter is available. Additionally, a person with a visual impairment may inquire if there are touchable elements on the tour, while another may ask for audio description. These are but a few elements that may be necessary for an individual to enjoy this particular program. Preparing a set of questions about recreational accessibility may appear time-consuming and challenging to some. To jump-start the process, the following is a short list of disability-specific questions from which recreation-seekers can formulate more individualized questions. Remember: these sample questions are not all-inclusive; each individual will have specific needs and interests. General Questions
Of concern to many people using mobility devices (such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches) and people with unsteady gaits is the physical access to the facility and program. Elements that affect physical accessibility include parking, routes to and through the facility, entrances, bathrooms, seating, counter and table heights, and more. Parking:
Entrance/Route:
Participation Fees:
Site Amenities and Information:
For people with sensory impairments
Facility-specific questions Campsite Type:
Campsite Amenities:
Grills:
Fire Rings:
Picnic Tables:
Comfort Stations and Pit Toilets:
Lodging:
Museums and exhibits:
The questions provided in this article are by no means an all-inclusive or mandatory list. These questions also do not ensure finding an accessible recreation facility. In fact, many of the questions will not apply to everyone and will not cover all potential aspects of accessibility at the site. However, asking questions specific to your needs will increase the likelihood of an enjoyable experience. Remember the visitor is the best person to decide if a recreation venue suits his/her specific needs. Do not hesitate to ask questions which you feel are important. While venues may advertise accessibility for people with disabilities, a little time spent investigating the site may avoid unpleasant surprises in the long run. Asking the recreation site staff pertinent questions will increase your chances of having an accessible and successful visit. After your visit….
It is especially important for people with disabilities to give continuous feedback to event staff, program coordinators and facility managers on the effectiveness of accessibility features within specific programs, services and facilities. Operational dollars have been designated to make accessibility improvements. However, if the accessibility improvements are not functional or effective, they have not served their purpose of creating an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the program or activity for people with disabilities. Thus, continuous feedback from consumers with disabilities can help park and recreation professionals to improve their facilities and services to best meet the needs of all of their visitors and participants. Let the park staff know when an accessible element is not working or effective and let them know how they can improve it for future visitors. Further recognize that one of the most commonly heard complaints from park and recreation professionals is that they have spent money to make accessibility improvements, but still the park, facility, program or accessible element goes unused by people with disabilities. When you have an enjoyable experience at a park, recreation program or facility, also be sure to let the staff know that as well. The program staff and facility managers especially want to know that they are serving their customers well. They will appreciate your compliment and most likely continue to work diligently to provide programs and facilities that are accessible and usable to visitors of all abilities. About this Monograph These materials were developed by the National Center on Accessibility for the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability under sponsorship of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About the Authors Susan Ostby is an Accessibility Specialist for the National Center on Accessibility. Jennifer K. Skulski is Director of Marketing and Special Projects for the National Center on Accessibility. |
