Traycie Swartz Katie Koplow Jackqueline Sheppard ADA Check List for the Bowling Alley in the University

Union The bowling alley in the University Union is accessible, however, there were some key features that did not follow the ADA guidelines and requirements. The first requirement that was not up to standards was the ramps. The height to length ratio is supposed to be 1 to 12, where for every 12 inches long the ramp should decline 1 inch. The ramp in the bowling alley was 1 to 14. To fix the ramp and make it up to standards, the ramp needs to be lengthened by two feet. The next requirement that fell short was automatic doors. The requirement is that the door should have an automatic closer that closes the door in 3 seconds. The closer that is currently on the door takes about 15 seconds for the door to fully close. To fix this problem, the closing mechanism needs to be adjusted. Another problem with the doors is the automatic door buttons. There is one button for the exterior door and a separate button for the interior door when coming in from outside. These two buttons work separately and when through the exterior doors the next button is too far away for someone in wheel chair to reach. This button should be moved. Coming from inside, the button opens both doors and does not need to be changed. At the front counter of the bowling alley, where you get your shoes and can buy food, the food is on a counter that is too high for a person in a wheel chair to reach. The person would have to ask for assistance for grabbing their food.

Once inside the bowling alley, there are multiple standards that have been over looked. First, the tables and chairs are all too high and too close together. The chairs and tables are on a level that you can only access by walking up or down two stairs and there is no ramp accessibility. The stairs to access these different levels have spaces only 12 inches wide. The ramp provided only gives access to one bowling lane and you cant even get a ball off the rack or use the screen controls. Some of the paths in the bowling alley have obstacles that could easily go unnoticed by a cane. These protrusions are 6 inches out from the wall and are about 55 inches high. All of these problems need to be reassessed and readjusted to meet the ADA standards. Although there are quite a few standards that are not met, there are also some requirements where the bowling alley has exceeded the standards. The main one is the bathroom. Located just outside of the bowling alley, there are the restrooms. There is a separate bathroom specifically designed to meet all of the ADA standards. It has everything from an automatic opening and closing door to the height of all the fixtures. It was nice to see that when the bowling ally was made the constructor workers did try to implement some ADA requirements but it would have been nice if more attention had been placed on making all parts of the ally wheelchair assessable. The area that is assessable is nice but seems very secluded and part of the effort of ADA is to integrate those of all abilities. If a few changes were done to the facility it would allow for more inclusion and make the experience better for the participant.