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DISCLAIMER: This page contains archived information for this program. It is posted for reference only. You may experience broken links since we do not maintain hyperlinks on archived pages.
6 June 2011 - NCA News Release: First Year Findings on the Accessibility of Playground Surfaces Published
23 June 2009 - Access to Recreation Webinar Series - Boating and Fishing Areas
July 30, 2009, 2 to 3:30 pm (Eastern)
Project teams will discuss solutions to designing for integration to fishing areas and creating water access. Featured projects:
Champaign Forest Preserves District (IL) Sally Prunty Michigan Project TBA
Pre-registration is through www.ncaonline.org > Access to Recreation Webinar Series. Check the NCA web site for computer technical requirements. Real-time captioning will also be provided.
23 June 2009 - Access to Recreation Webinar Series - Interpretive Trails
August 27, 2009, 2 to 3:30 pm (Eastern)
During this session the project teams will discuss plans to makeover one existing park and build another while creating a multi-sensory trail experience and using technology for visitor orientation. Featured
projects:
Pondview Park, Kettering (OH) Joe Baldasare, Dayton Community Foundation; MaryBeth Thaman, Kettering Parks and Recreation; and Todd Wales, Vivian Llambi & Associates Southwind Park, Springfield (IL) - Diane Mathis, Springfield Park District
Pre-registration is through www.ncaonline.org > Access to Recreation Webinar Series. Check the NCA web site for computer technical requirements. Real-time captioning will also be provided.
10 November 2005 - GSA Adopts New ABA Accessibility Standards
The General Services Administration has officially adopted the revised accessibility standards issued by the U.S. Access Board under the Architectural Barriers Act. The updated regulation appears in the November 8, 2005 edition of the Federal Register as a "Federal Management Regulation; Real Property Policies Update" (41 CFR Parts 102-71, 102-72, et al). The effective date has been set as May 8, 2006.
In Section 102.76.65, GSA adopts appendices C and D to 36 CFR part 1191, which is the ABA Chapters 1 and 2, and Chapters 3-10, now known as the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards.
As background, the U.S. Access Board issued the revision to the accessibility guidelines under the Architectural Barriers Act and Americans with Disabilities Act on July 23, 2004. In essence, the revision brings together ADAAG (the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines) and UFAS (the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) into one document with consistent technical specifications which are more harmonious with other model building codes. In order for the new accessibility guidelines to take affect and become standards they must be adopted by each of the governing agencies under the corresponding laws. Under the ABA, the General Services Administration, U.S. Postal Service, Department of Defense and Department of Housing and Urban Development must each adopt the Access Board's revised guidelines. In this case of adoption by GSA, the revised accessibility standards will apply to all federal spaces owned and operated under the auspices of GSA, including the federal land management agencies within the U.S. Department of Interior, such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.
Interestingly, the GSA rule gives special attention to projects that have been in the planning process during the time it has take for the guidelines to be adopted as standards. According to the GSA rule, "The construction or alteration of a facility for which plans and specifications were completed or substantially completed on or before May 8, 2006, is permitted to meet the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards if the construction or alteration is commenced by May 8, 2008."
The next most obvious question is how does this rule affect those entities covered under Title II and Title III of the ADA? The quick answer, "it doesn't." For the Access Board's revised guidelines to take affect under the Americans with Disabilities Act, they must be adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice. DOJ issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in September 2004. A Notice of Proposed Rule and subsequent Final Rule must still be issued by DOJ before the revised accessibility guidelines will become enforceable standards under the ADA.
Resources
ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines issued by the U.S. Access Board http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/final.htm
20 April 2005
The National Center on Accessibility has submitted comments to the U.S.
Department of Justice on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to begin the process of revising the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). NCA has provided comment to DOJ on playgrounds, golf courses, swimming pools and other recreation facility and policy issues. The NCA comments are available for public viewing on the NCA web site: www.ncaonline.org
Through May 31, 2005, people with disabilities and practitioners affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act can provide input to the U.S. Department of Justice on the proposed revision of the current ADA design standards. For park and recreation professionals this is another opportunity to comment on design standards and policy issues related to accessing recreation facilities like swimming pools, golf courses, playgrounds, amusement rides, fitness facilities and sports complexes.
For questions or more information as to how the ANPRM relates to recreation facilities contact the National Center on Accessibility at (812) 856-4422 (voice), (812) 856-4421 (TTY) or nca@indiana.edu
30 September 2004 - Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend 28 CFR Part 35
26 June 2003
- This week the U.S. Access Board issued technical assistance
publications on the new accessibility guidelines for recreation
facilities. The publications cover amusement rides, boating
facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses, miniature golf
courses, sports facilities, swimming pools and spas. The publications
are available on the Access Board web site:
http://www.access-board.gov/recreation/guides/index.htm
To highlight the new rule, the National Center on Accessibility has
also produced a video stream webcast with Peggy Greenwell and Bill
Botten of the U.S. Access Board. The video stream program is free and
can be viewed with Real Player on the NCA web site: www.ncaonline.org
14 May 2003
- The National Center on Accessibility has produced a webcast
highlighting the new Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation
Facilities issued by the U.S. Access Board. The distance learning
program was created to generate greater awareness of the new rule
while giving people the opportunity to sit in on presentations
directly from the U.S. Access Board. The program is now available for
viewing at www.ncaonline.org
Peggy Greenwell and Bill Botten highlight the new accessibility
guidelines for sports facilities, golf courses and miniature golf
courses, amusement rides, boating and fishing facilities, and swimming
pools during the 7 to 15 minute video segments. The video stream
program can be viewed with Real Player. This webcast is funded in part
by the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
(www.ncpad.org) and the National Park Service (www.nps.gov).
10 April 2003
- The National Center on Accessibility has spent the last several months
re-engineering the NCA web site to provide you with the most
up-to-date resources for including people with disabilities in all
facets of parks, recreation and tourism. Some of the new features to
the NCA web site include:
+Monographs on trails, beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and more.
The monographs are available in HTML and PDF formats for use as
training handouts.
+Updated listing of products to optimize access in recreation
environments and considerations for purchases
+New accessible features coded within web pages to enhance usability
for people with disabilities visiting this site with adaptive
technologies.
NCA welcomes feedback on the newly designed site and its features so
that we may continue to provide you with the most current information
on access to parks, recreation and tourism. Send comments to
nca@indiana.edu
9 September 2002
- On September 3, 2002, the Access Board published new guidelines that
address access for persons with disabilities to a variety of
recreation facilities. The guidelines specify the minimum level of
accessibility required in the construction or alteration of amusement
rides, boating facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses,
miniature golf courses, sports facilities, swimming and wading pools,
and spas. The Board issued these guidelines under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures access to a wide range of
facilities in the private and public sectors. The Board is also
making these guidelines applicable to facilities covered by the
Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), which requires certain federally
funded facilities to be accessible.
The new guidelines supplement the Boards ADA Accessibility
Guidelines (ADAAG) by adding a new chapter specific to recreation
facilities. ADAAG, as originally published, covered many types of
buildings and facilities but did not specifically address recreation
facilities in particular detail. The Board had determined that
specific guidance was needed on how to achieve access at recreation
facilities. The published guidelines provide new requirements for
such facilities and also clarify how existing requirements in ADAAG
are to be applied. New provisions take into consideration certain
design features unique to the facilities covered.
The new guidelines are available on the Access Board web site at
http://www.access-board.gov/recreation/final.htm
Not to be confused with recreation facilities, accessibility
guidelines for outdoor developed areas (trails, beaches, campgrounds,
picnic areas, scenic overlooks) are still under development by the
Access Board and are expected to be released as a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) sometime in 2003.
10 June 2002
- The National Center on Accessibility is currently developing several
distance learning programs on outdoor developed areas. Staff are
seeking examples of newly developed tent, cabin and RV camp sites
meeting or exceeding the minimum proposed accessibility guidelines set
forth by the U.S. Access Board's Regulatory Negotiation Committee on
Outdoor Developed Areas. If you have projects that could serve as
educational examples to outdoor recreation professionals, please
consider submitting photos or digital images to NCA. All projects
included in the distance learning programs will contain photo credits,
an excellent opportunity for exposure for your facility and agency.
Digital images (jpg, 600 dpi min, 100kb max) can be submitted via
e-mail to nca@indiana.edu Photographs, slides or digital images can
also be mailed to: National Center on Accessibility, 2805 East 10th
St, Suite 190, Bloomington, IN 47408. Please include a brief
description of the site and contact information.
For questions, call NCA Accessibility Specialists Susan Ostby or Amy
Patrick at (812) 856-4422 (voice) or (812) 856-4421 (tty).
22 March 2002
- The U.S. Access Board's toll number (voice) and staff extensions have
changed due to an upgrade of its phone system. Its toll-free
numbers(and temporarily its TTY and fax numbers) remain the same:
voice: (202) 272-0080 or (800) 872-2253
TTY: (202) 272-5449 or (800) 993-2822
Fax: (202) 272-5447
20 February 2002
- NCA issues results of beach surface research study
In collaboration with Action Disability Advocates, Inc. the National
Center on Accessibility conducted research on the use of temporary
beach surfaces in Daytona, Florida. The purpose of the study was to
investigate the utility of various types of temporary beach surfaces
that may provide accessibility to people with mobility impairments.
The objective was to provide information to managers of beach areas
that would allow them to compare the options regarding temporary
surfaces for beach access.
Seven temporary surfaces were tested on ease of use by people with
mobility impairments. In addition, the research study analyzed
installation, weekly maintenance and cost.
The report authored by Dr. Edward J. Hamilton, is now available
throught the National Center on Accessibility. Full report, 78 pages,
$20 (includes shipping).
The Executive Summary is available on the NCA web site at
http://www.indiana.edu/~nca/beaches/exec-sum.shtml
To order the full report, contact NCA at (812) 856-4422 (voice) or
(812) 856-4421 (tty).
6 December 2001
- NCA Studies Visitor Expectations and Perceptions
Several studies have been written about the trip characteristics of
state/national park users. However, very little has been done about
the behaviors, perceptions, motivations, and expectations of park
visitors with disabilities. During Spring 2001, the National Center on
Accessibility/National Park Service sponsored a study of national park
visitors with disabilities. The study was conducted in collaboration
with the University of Tennessee. The purpose of the study was to
identify the perceptions of people with disabilities relative to
program and physical accessibility in the National Park Service.
The executive summary is available on the National Center on
Accessibility web site at ncaonline.org
22 May 2001
- The U.S. Access Board has issued a new guide on the accessibility guidelines for play areas under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The online guide is available at http://www.access-board.gov/play/guide/intro.htm
Hard Corps Experience - Learning some lessons from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Article from Recreation Management
Web Meetings (Webinars)
Memos & Suspenses
