AbiliTV Broadcasting

Review of Ford Dining Court

Once we found it the layout is excellent, the seat...

Once we found it the layout is excellent, the seating is plentiful, and the food options pretty awesome.

The next part is to rate the process of getting to this location.

I am a wheelchair user and am used to no access situations.

This wasn't completely the case. But, is darn close. For one thing no actual direct access ramps exist to reach the Uninion.

Now not that the college doesn't know this already. 2020 is the year no excuses will prevent the ADA from finding issues and giving a typical 60 day grace to show actual good effort to resolving violations.

I don't mean oh look we scheduled fund drives and activites to raise money for the eventual repair or addiction to fix violations. I mean, actual construction and work is well under way to making the needed violations go away.

The ADA can fine from $75,000 up to $300,000 per violation and can charge any amount even on first time violations.

If what I read is correct recently the ADA upped the lower limit from $75,000 and raised it in preparation for 2020 to $115,000 and if that isn't bad enough a second violation is $150,000 up to $300,000.

1994 the ADA made clear that all public accessible areas, businesses, schools, governmental property and any private property that the public accesses regularly will be made barrier free. To make accessibly for all people possible.

The best idea is to get rid of as many stairs as possible replace them with ramps. This solves many issues.

Less falls and tripping. With that less cost for the college to cover in insurance.

As well as making it so much easier for all people to access places equally.

I think Stone Hall just redid a massive stair project and what a waste. Could have added a wheelchair ramp easy as pie with the space and distance to the sidewalk it has.

I would love to be asked to come and work with whomever department and people that do the access design and show them ways to save tons of money. And get it done the right way without having tp dig up newly installed stairs.

Every new stair project needs to be looked at as a way to get rid of the stairs and use a single surface to meet needs.

Not just one door with a ramp, as if an emergency happens to block it, how does the wheelchair user exit safely?

Oh, and the ADA goes from passive to being an active department that goes out looking for any and all issues.

Did you know 1/4 inch of sidewalk or any surface is a tripping hazard and is considered an access violation. Consider all the concrete spaces and now how may areas did the ground settle or have or shift.

I see a solution you already use. Recycled tire rubber walkways. Especially over areas that are always seeming to move.

This provides a smooth surface that is flexible enough to move with the ground and terrian.

Also, please for the love of God, paint blue handicap access lines to lead wheelchair users the correct way to places.

Also put signs to tell what floor is what in elevators. And, use signs to in elevators to alert users in wheelchairs what button is for accesible spaces.

I was at the college for 5 hours and figured out how I would make it way easier for wheelchair users to get around.

A fellow named Steve I think he was the Superintendent or just super! Everyone knew him it was great. He finally helped us find the floor and the proper elevator to get around Union.

Unless you live life from a wheelchair you will not understand how the design and layout of things fails for people like me.

It would be awesome to get a full scholarship to study putting theory of accessibility into actual practice.

As it is now I could file with the ADA several vibrations I found. I could also file a lawsuit and would win it based on my struggles today to access a building.

Instead of any of that, cool your jets. Would you ever consider a 49 year old fully disabled student on full scholarship? I would study engineering and the actual use of those theories as in both sides of the coin. It would be about ergonomic design of spaces used by the public. Just a thought.