Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Shannon Knutson
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Exterior Signage 3
Designated Parking 4
Transit 5
Safety Issues 5
Ramps 6
Washrooms: Family 8
Stairs 9
Deaf Issues 9
Blind/Sight Impaired 10
Mobility Issues 10
References 12
Appendix 13
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 3
Introduction
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, enacted in 2005 has
kickstarted a movement in society towards a more accessible world by the year 2025.
entrance, and use of facilities by persons with disabling conditions (Knutson, 2014).
Currently, 16.8% of Ontarians are currently living with a disability; and by the year 2020 it
is estimated that over 20% of Ontarios population will be living with a disability (Knutson,
2014). As the aging population continues to grow, the need for an accessible Ontario grows
stronger. The intent of this paper is to evaluate the level of accessibility at the University Of
Waterloos School Of Optometry building, and offer suggestions to improve the quality of
access for all members of the community. This paper will be divided into sections based
upon the areas that have been audited. Each section will include a summary of findings
from the Assessment Audit: K-W Barrier Free Advisor Commitee form. Sections will also
Exterior Signage
There is one sign on the exterior of the building that indicates it is the Optometry
building, located on the corner of Columbia and Hagey. It is visible only if you are travelling
West down Columbia or leaving the University grounds via Hagey Ave. (see Appendix A).
The font of the sign is 101mm, and the sign is 914 mm high off of the ground. The sign uses
highly contrasting colors of a black font upon a white background. However, the address is
not listed on the sign or anywhere else on the exterior of the building.
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One suggestion for improvement would be relocating the sign completely. Due to
the high pedestrian and vehicle traffic, as well as the angle the sign is situated at, very few
visitors are able to visibly see the sign. It is suggested to relocate the sign to the front of the
building on Columbia St. It is also recommended that the sign be raised above head level in
redesigned in order to illuminate at night to guide visitors during all times of the day
Designated parking
There are four designated parking spots located within thirty meters of the main
entrance of the Optometry building. The parking spaces are angled and 3835.4mm wide,
and are identifiable by the universal accessibility sign. For the first 100 parking spaces
there is a minimum of 4 accessible parking spaces, plus 2 accessible parking spaces for
every additional 100 (City of Toronto, 2004). The Optometry parking spaces are larger than
the 3600mm standard (Knutson, 2014). Accessible parking spaces should have both a
mounted accessibility sign and a paving sign (City of Toronto, 2004). The designated
parking areas outside of the facility are missing the clearly marked sign located on the
pavement. It is recommended that these pavement signs be added in order to easily direct
visitors.
The designated drop off zone is located directly outside the main entrance doors of
the building. The overhead clearance exceeds 15 feet. The drop off zone also features a
flush in the curb, approximately 1676 mm wide, making it accessible for wheelchairs and
adhering to the standard for a wheelchair flush of 750mm (Knutson, 2014). Possible
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recommendations could include the addition of an accessibility sign to the loading zone, as
well as repairing the cracked and uneven flush in the curb which is currently
Transit
Transit is conveniently located right outside the Optometry building. There are bus
stops on all four corners of the Hagey & Columbia intersection (see Appendix A). The
landing pads and shelter for the busses are wheelchair accessible and are located on a flat,
even surface with a wide entryway. There are four seats within the bus shelter for seniors
One recommendation we are making is the creation of a direct path from the bus
stop to the main entrance, or better yet a closer entryway to the building, so those who are
unable to use the stairs do not have to travel such a substantial distance on the sidewalk all
Safety Issues
It should be noted that the lighting throughout the building is respectable. The front
wall, facing Columbia St is made entirely of windows; omitting a surplus of natural light
into the building. However, due to the natural lighting, a bright glare has become an issue
reflecting off of the floors (Appendix C). All finishes should be matte in order to minimize
glare, and high-gloss, high-wax finishes should be avoided (City of Toronto, 2004). Glare
leaves an after image on the retina for persons with low vision which is extremely
hazardous and problematic (City of Toronto, 2004). Efforts should be made to limit the
amount of natural light coming into the building from the West and Southwest (City of
Toronto, 2004). Furthermore, it is suggested that the building install blocks of carpeting in
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 6
order to minimize glare, and act as a supplementary textural cue to aid persons in direction
Ramps
The Optometry building has a complete lack of ramps in the interior and exterior.
However, as a replacement the building offers two curb cuts to those who have mobility
impairments, which are located outside of the main foyer (Appendix D).
The lack of ramps in or outside the building is a problem posed to the overall
accessibility of this facility. The high-traffic entrance off of Hagey boulevard is the first
impairments are currently required to walk around the entire building just to enter. Adding
a ramp to the Hagey boulevard entrance would greatly improve general access to the
building. It is also suggested that a ramp be installed to enter the main foyer, as the curb
The main entrance and foyer deserves recognition for its layout, design, and overall
accessibility. The area outside of the entrance is level, and push button door openers are
clearly identifiable with the universal symbol. The push buttons are located on either side
of the doors and are at hip level; making the buttons easily accessible to all. The handles are
easily gripped on the doors and the width of each door is 914mm. Once inside the building,
there is ample lighting as well as emergency lighting if required. On the visitors immediate
right, one would find the elevator. The elevator is 1.5m x 3.0m which exceeds the United
Nations Design Manual for a Barrier Free Environment (United Nations, 2004). The
elevator is equipped with braille, and the buttons are 900mm from the floor. However, it
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 7
does lack verbal indicators of any kind. The snack bar is clearly marked with a sign and the
facilities countertop sits at 832mm from the ground, which is slightly lower than the
recommended height of 890mm. Water fountains sit at a height of 800mm and are all easily
accessible. The building is equipped with both visual and audio working alarm systems.
Though the foyer and main entrance ways are highly accessible, a few
improvements could be made for the future. Signage visibility is extremely poor though it is
difficult to navigate through the building as there are many rooms, wings, and divisions and
only a handful of signs (8 x 10cm computer printouts) (Appendix E). Contrasting signs need
Both the female and male washrooms are identical in their layouts. Washrooms
offer adequate lighting, signage on door, and are free of any obstacles. All stall doors open
outwards and have a self-closing feature which may also be locked if desired. Each stall
offers a coat hook and has a turning radius of at least 152mm as well as featuring a knarled
grab bar on the left hand side from when you enter. The toilet paper dispenser is located
underneath the grab bar and is single style. Each washroom comes equipped with an
enormous mirror which takes the place of the entire wall behind the sinks. Sinks are all cut
out under the counter, the pipes are wrapped, the handles are levered, and the soap
dispenser and hand dryers are all at arms length away. The washroom lacks change tables,
carpet component to reduce the risk of hazard within the washrooms. It is also highly
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 8
recommended to add a change table to each of the washrooms (male and female) in order
to reduce the number of people who must wait in line for the family washroom.
Family
The family washroom is only available through access to the Optometry Learning
Centre. The family washrooms door have a 914mm clearance, an automatic door opener
(push button), and also have a large visible sign. Once inside the restroom, there is ample
adequate lighting, coat hooks, and a turning radius of 304mm or more. This washroom has
an L shaped grab bar on the left hand side of the toilet. However, the toilet paper
dispenser; located before the grab bar, obstructs the use of the grab bar (Appendix F). This
washroom offers visitors the only change table in the building, which sits at .90m. The
flooring in this washroom differs from the male-female bathrooms as it is non slip and non
glare. The sinks are identical to those found in the male and female washrooms. The family
washroom is generally very accessible. However, there are two small modifications that
can be made to solidify the washrooms complete accessibility. The washroom would
benefit from a change in design of the grab bar and toilet paper dispenser. A person who
has limited vision may become very confused between the grab bar and toilet paper
dispenser. Furthermore, the washroom should remove the large chair that is blocking
Stairs
Located within the complex, there is one staircase leading from the ground floor to
the second level; consisting of 20 steps in total. Rounded handrails made of wood are
provided on either side of the stairs, covering the full span of the steps. The stairs are made
of separate concrete slabs, with open air at their backing, which results in an open riser.
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 9
The rise per step is 177.8 mm, which is compatible with ADA standards; which is also
exactly 177.8mm (ADA, 2010).The width of the staircase is 1295.4 mm, which is also
compliant to standards set by ADA in which the requirement is 1219.2mm in width (ADA,
2010). Each step has 3 anti-slip strips made of a distinct abrasive material, which permits
Recommendations fit to improve the overall safety pertaining to the staircase would
be firstly to apply a yellow strip to the nosing of the stairs in order to make each step more
apparent for those with visual impairments. Secondly, although the lighting above the
stairs is exceptional, the overall contrasting colors of the stairs, and the handrails need to
be more evident. The colors blend in with the surroundings, which could pose as another
Deaf Issues
conditioner/heating system, albeit very faint. Both assistive listening and Teletype devices
(TTY systems) are not available from reception for use. The openness and acoustics
Optometry building more accommodating to those with hearing impairments. The assistive
listening devices are used in order to amplify and create better sound to noise ratio, which
when in the larger lecture halls, and reverberant spaces is quite necessary. Our group has
also deemed having TTYs available for use as a reasonable recommendation to put in
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 10
place. This implementation could particularly aid in involving people who are deaf in more
functions, and make these individuals more comfortable, and feel more accepted.
Blind/Sight Impaired
Neither an overhead voice sound system, nor public address system for things such as
paging and general announcements is in place within the facility. Along with this, the
elevator does not have any type of audible cues to assist those with sight impairments,
however the elevators are equipped with braille under the floor numbers, door controls,
employing an overhead voice sound system, and audible cues in the elevator are the first
developments necessary. Lastly, administration could consider the addition of more tactile
properties, such as braille under room numbers, and other major signage throughout the
building, which in turn would achieve a more accessible facility to those without the use of
sight.
Mobility Issues
Within the Optometry building there are numerous designated seating areas
provided. These areas are thoughtfully spread out to ensure individuals who might have
reduced stamina or strength have a convenient resting place if need be. In addition to fixed
seating throughout the facility, there are plenty of accessible seating locations where those
who use mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs can easily reach without difficulty, or
having to deviate from a normal path of travel. Also located at these spaces are chairs that
can be pulled away without difficulty if more space is required. Additionally, there are
couches and larger chairs placed throughout the facility if individuals require a more
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 11
comfortable place to rest. All of the furniture, and other larger objects have been
strategically placed throughout the building; often pushed against the walls or to the side
as to not intrude normal paths of travel. This considerably removes safety hazards making
the holistic view of the building more accessible. Overall, there are no further
Conclusions
Completion of the Assessment Audit: K-W Barrier Free Advisor Commitee form brings
forward five main areas requiring necessary change and improvement for optimal
accessibility. The most significant areas deemed inaccessible were the overall lack of suitable
directions and information signage, the need for a direct path from the sidewalk to the main
entrance, the absence of any ramps, and finally the high intensity glare that carries
throughout the building. Overall, the Optometry building is on the right track towards
creating a more barrier free experience, however with a few minor improvements that have
been suggested the facility can look forward to offering a completely accessible space for all.
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 12
References
Accessibility Design Manual. (n.d.). UN Enable. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/designm/AD2-02.htm
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm
http://www1.toronto.ca/static_files/equity_diversity_and_human_rights_office/pdf
/accessibility_design_guidelines.pdf
Knutson, S. (2014). Accessibility design principles and tips [PDF Document]. Retrieved from
viewContent/1007414/View?ou=156010
http://www.queensu.ca/camplan/reports/aguide/6-0.html
ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT 13
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Appendix I
Appendix J
Appendix K
Appendix L
Appendix M
Appendix N