NCA conducts and facilitates research on issues critical to access in recreation environments. NCA has partnered with researchers from the universities of Minnesota, Utah, Georgia and Tennessee to discover the needs and preferences of people with disabilities. NCA Research provides professionals with practical solutions to enhance access for visitors with disabilities. NCA Research has shaped the development of policy and accessibility standards nationally and internationally. Research Studies >>

NCA Research in 2006

• NCA National Trails Surface Study
  Initiated in 2005, this longitudinal study is primarily the result of questions that the National Center on Accessibility has, for many years and continues to receive from organizations, agencies and individuals who desire to make their trails accessible; are interested in an unobtrusive surface that blends and is friendly to the environment; and provides a quality trail experience for people with and without disabilities.
  
  
• Playground Surfaces
  Choosing between loose fill and unitary playground surfaces is a difficult decision for many playground owners and usually comes down to cost. In 2005, NCA launched a pilot study on the installation, maintenance and usability of various playground surfaces. This longitudinal study will investigate the initial installation costs versus long-term maintenance costs of various surfaces from poured-in-place rubber surfaces to loose fill engineered wood fiber. Research findings will give playground owners objective information on long-term costs of accessible surfaces to assist in making budgetary and purchasing decisions. Organizations interested in collaborating on the project should contact Jennifer Skulski (jskulski@indiana.edu), Director of Marketing & Special Projects.