A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n Report on the Section 504 Self-Evaluation - May 1996

Consolidated Executive Summaries

Introduction

This assessment report is based upon the review of a document titled US Department of Education 1995-96 Ergonomics-504-Safety Survey, Regional Survey Tour prepared by the US Department of Education Curtis M. Wolridge - Fire and Safety Specialist. That document is herein referred to as The Survey.

The Survey was in part intended to gather information for use in evaluating accessibility at the following twelve (12) regional Department of Education facilities:

This assessment report does not include evaluations of the recently, or soon to be, vacated Department of Education facilities in New York City and Chicago, but does include the new facilities into which that staff have relocated.

Where detail information in The Survey was sufficient, this report has included cost estimates for individual comment items. However, because of the interdependent nature of accessibility features and the lack of detail in The Survey, it is impossible to determine if the comment items represent the totality of what is needed or if they are necessary at all because of some other extenuating circumstances and unreported conditions.

Some of the language and information contained in The Survey appears to be arbitrary and unsubstantiated and, in some cases, photos included in The Survey appear to be in conflict with the written statements. In particular, the following basic questions should be answered regarding The Survey.

  1. What is meant by "paddle handles"?

  2. What is meant by the following adjectives relative to whether or not accessibility modifications are needed?
    Inadequate, adequate, limited, excellent, poor, better than ample, more than ample, less than adequate, hazardous, difficult, no.
  3. What is meant by the "Uniform Handicap Accessibility Standard"?
The Survey frequently did not fully address one or more of the six areas that are typically included in UFAS compliance facility survey reports. Some of the types of missing critical information are as follows:

1 Parking and Passenger Loading Zones

1.1 How many total and how many accessible parking spaces are provided?
1.2 What are the sizes of the accessible parking spaces?
1.3 Do the accessible parking spaces have access aisles and signage?
1.4 What are the cross slopes of the accessible parking areas?
1.5 Is there an accessible path of travel between the parking and the entrance?
1.6 Is an accessible drop-off area provided?

2 Site Accessible Routes

2.1 Are the sidewalks accessible?
2.2 Are there any breaks, gaps, or gratings that restrict accessibility?
2.3 Are there any protruding objects that create hazards to visually impaired people?
2.4 What is the slope of the ramps?
2.5 Are the handrails acceptable?
2.6 Are there appropriately sized landings at the top, bottom, and intermediate ramp positions?

3 Entrances

3.1 What are the pull force and closing speed at doors?
3.2 What are the sizes of the vestibules and the landings on both sides of doors?
3.3 What are the conditions and heights of thresholds?
3.4 What are the heights of door locks, controls, and door bells/buzzers?

4 Building Accessible Routes

4.1 What are the door widths along the corridors?
4.2 What is the opening force and closing speed at doors?
4.3 What are the floor finish conditions?
4.4 What are the emergency alarm pull station heights?
4.5 Are there audible and visual alarms?
4.6 Are there any narrow aisles?
4.7 What are the door widths and sizes of the elevator cabs?
4.8 Do the elevators provide audible signals?
4.9 Is there a cab/floor gap at the entry?
4.10 What are the elevator control heights?
4.11 Where is signage located?
4.12 Is there high contrast and tactile signage on room doors?

5 Rooms, Assembly Spaces and Special Features

5.1 What are the security desk heights?
5.2 What are the door pressures, clear openings width and door maneuvering space dimensions at the entry and within special use areas?
5.3 What are the special facilities (i.e., cafeteria, health, clinic fixtures center, training rooms, assembly rooms, etc.)?

6 Toilets, Drinking Fountains and Telephones

6.1 Is the entry accessible? Is tactile signage provided?
6.2 What is the lavatory clearance - height, width, and depth?
6.3 What types of controls are on the accessible lavatories, toilets and urinals?
6.4 Are there accessible routes to lavatories, urinals, toilets, etc.?
6.5 What are the heights of amenities, such as paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers, shelves, etc?
6.6 What are the maneuvering space dimensions on the entry and toilet stall doors?
6.7 What are the grab bar configurations - heights, locations, diameters?
6.8 Are public telephones provided? What are their heights? Do they have the necessary equipment for hearing impaired individuals?
6.9 What are the heights of spouts and knee clearances at drinking fountains? What operating hardware is provided?
6.10 What are the conditions at telephones?

Regional Facilities

This assessment report is based upon the review of a document titled US Department of Education 1995-96 Ergonomics-504-Safety Survey, Regional Survey Tour prepared by the US Department of Education Office of Management, Health and Environmental Safety Group, Curtis M. Wolridge - Fire and Safety Specialist. That document is herein referred to as The Survey.

The following is an overview/summary of the most important accessibility modifications for each of the regional facilities as identified in The Survey.

REGION I

540 McCormick Courthouse
Boston, MA

The highest priority should be to replace existing knob handles with lever handles at common use doors. Other priorities are the installation or relocation of the doorbell at the main entry to a 36 inch height and the re-arrangement of equipment, furniture and stored goods within office areas to provide 36 inch wide clear paths of travel throughout.

REGION II

75 Park Place
New York, NY

The highest priority should be to retrofit the entry door with an automated power door operator and to provide a 5 foot by 5 foot accessible toilet stall in the Mens and Womens rooms. Other priorities include providing accessible drinking fountains.

REGION III

Science Center at 3535 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA

The highest priorities should be changing door knobs to lever handles on all common use doors and providing at least one wheelchair accessible toilet room for each sex with a 5 foot by 5 foot toilet stall. Other priorities include relocating furniture and stored goods to provide 36 inch wide accessible pathways within the Rehabilitation Services Administration Room 16120, the Office of the Inspector General Room 16280, and the Union Office on the 16th floor; and providing accessible drinking fountains.

REGION IV

101 Marrietta Tower Building
Atlanta, GA

The highest priority should be to provide 5 foot by 5 foot accessible toilet stalls in the Mens and Womens toilets. Other priorities should be relocating furniture, stored goods and/or partitions within the Student Financial Assistance Office Room 2203, the Office of the Inspector General Room 2201, the Debt Collection/Data Support and the Office of Civil Rights Small Section to provide 36 inch wide clear paths of travel throughout.

REGION V

The River View Center at 111 North Canal Street
Chicago, IL

The highest priority should be making the main entrance accessible by installing an automated door. Other priorities should be making public rest rooms accessible and providing accessible drinking fountains.

REGION VI

Main Tower Building at 1200 Main Street
Dallas, TX

The highest priority should be to provide accessible public rest rooms by modifying toilet stall partitions and raising toilet seats. Other priorities are to remove obstructions which limit the clear floor space at doors and to provide 36 inch wide minimum clear paths of travel within the Office of the Inspector General.

REGION VII

Northpointe Tower at 10220 North Executive Hills Boulevard
Kansas City, MO

The highest priority should be to provide 5 foot by 5 foot accessible toilet stalls in each of the Mens and Womens rooms. Other priorities should be installing a sign at the main entry directing traffic to the accessible entry and relocating furniture and stored goods within the Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Human Resources Office Room 910 to provide 36 inch wide minimum clear paths of travel.

REGION VIII

The Colonade Building at 1244 Spear Boulevard
Denver, CO

The highest priority should be the installation of visual and audible fire alarms in each public rest room and in the Office of Civil Rights. Other priorities should be to request local authorities to modify the walk light timing on Spear Boulevard to allow adequate time for pedestrians who move slowly to cross the street and the relocation of furniture and stored goods in the Student Financial Assistance Office and storage rooms to provide 36 inch wide minimum clear paths of travel throughout.

REGION VIIIa

1801 California Street
Denver, CO

The highest priority should be the installation of 5 foot by 5 foot accessible toilet stalls in the Mens and Womens toilet rooms. Other priorities should be lowering a urinal to a 17 inch height maximum and providing accessible drinking fountains.

REGION IX

50 United Nations Plaza
San Francisco, CA

The highest priority should be to change door knobs to lever handles at common use doors. Other priorities should include modifying door closers to provide 5 pounds maximum pull force and 3 seconds minimum closing speed, lowering a urinal in the Mens toilet room, and providing accessible drinking fountains.

REGION X

Henry Jackson Federal Building at 915 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA

The highest priority should be the relocation of furniture to provide 32 inch wide clear door openings and to provide 36 inch wide minimum clear paths of travel throughout the general office and conference room areas.

REGION Xa

First Bank Building at 1000 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA

The highest priorities should be to install an automatic opener at the main entry door and to provide accessible 5 foot by 5 foot toilet stalls in the Mens and Womens rooms. Other priorities should be to adjust or change door closers or provide automatic door openers at the public rest room entry doors and to provide accessible drinking fountains.
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[490 L'Enfant Plaza] [Table of Contents] [Appendix A: 504 Regulations at 34 CFR Part 105]