DebConf12/AccessibilityChecklist

Accessibility checklist template for Debconfs

This checklist has been prepared to help Debconf Organizing Team to make the Conference easier for people with disabilities. It's a simple compilation from other much more restrict guidelines which have been found over the Internet. Currently it's focused on people with mobility limitations – people requiring the use of a mobility device (wheelchair or scooter), an assistive device (cane/crutch or walker) or persons of short stature. (http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/cms/en/html/GrantSeekers/AccessibilityTipSheet.aspx?menuid=21)

Choosing the venue

It's recommended that DC team consider the Universal Design concept when choosing the venue. It's pretty simple:

"Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design." (http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/udprincipleshtmlformat.html)

It's also very helpful having this checklist in hands during the visits to prospective venues.

Mandatory items

Notice that the following questions should be considered for daytrip, hacklabs, official dinner and other official events during Debcamp/Debconf. If you have comments please write them just below the related question. Everything marked as no or n/a probably needs an explanation and a proposal to solve the issue.

Parking

• Does the place have at least one parking space designated for individuals with disabilities? (Minimum 98 inches (2.5m) high and minimum 16 feet (5m) wide to accommodate both parking space and access aisle)

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

However, accessing the hotel is very difficult because of the street inclination, wich for a person in a wheelchair is very

• Are curb ramps provided wherever an accessible route crosses a curb?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Walks, curbs and ramps

• Do ramps at door entrances have adequate maneuvering clearances for a person using a wheelchair?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Does the primary accessible entrance have a minimum clear opening (free of protrusions and obstructions) of 32 inches (80cm)?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Entrances, corridors and stairs

• Are handles, pulls, latches, locks, and other operating devices on accessible doors easily grasped with one hand, and require no tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

The door at the hotel's restaurant is very heavy and, in consequence, a little difficult for handle.

Meeting rooms, hacklabs, talk rooms

• Are accessible meeting rooms available?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Are the accessible meeting rooms centrally located in the facility to prevent unnecessary long travel for people with mobility impairments?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Do the doors to these rooms have a minimum clear opening of 32 inches (80cm)?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is there adequate space for seating at least two people using wheelchairs?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Restaurants (don't forget the official dinner place)

• Do entrances to food service establishments have a door with a 32 inch (80cm) clear opening, single effort door pull, and negotiable thresholds of 3/4 inch (2cm) or less in height and beveled at a slope of 1:2?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Are tables accessible? (A 30 inch (75cm) width for individual seating, 27 inches (70cm) minimum knee clearance, and minimum 19 inches (50cm) depth under the table)

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Guest rooms

• Do entry, bathroom, and closet doors have a minimum clear opening of 32 inches (80cm) with maximum threshold height of 1/2 inch (1cm) with beveled edges of 1:2 slope as necessary?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is there a minimum clear opening of 36 inch (90cm) by at least one side of the bed?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is there at least one telephone in the room which is accessible from the bed?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Are towel and closet racks mounted at a maximum height of 48 inches (120cm)?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is the lavatory mounted at least 29 inches (75cm) from the floor to provide knee clearance, at a maximum height of 34 inches (85cm) to the top surface of the lavatory, and with the bottom of the drain pipe at least 9 inches (23cm) from the floor surface?

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

The lavatory is mounted at 70cm from the floor, but a a height of 90cm.

• Is the top of the water closet seat between 17 to 19 inches (43 to 48 cm) from the floor surface?

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

The water closet seat is at 40cm from the floor surface.

• Are faucets controlled by a hand lever, push button, or electronic control that is easily operated by one hand, not requiring tight grasping, pinching, or twisting and operable with 5 pounds of force or less?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Do shower and tub combinations have curtains rather than glass doors?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is the floor space in the shower stall at least 36 x 36 inches (90 x 90 cm)? Note: Shower stalls that would fit into the space required for a bathtub (30 by 60 inches (75 x 150 cm)) are also allowed.

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

The floor space in the shower is 150 x 80 cm.

• Does the number of accessible guest rooms or suites available are more than 6? (Considering Debconf has about 300 attendees)

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

The hotel has only two accessible guest rooms.

Elevators

• Does the facility have a passenger elevator?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Does the elevator provide access to all levels of the facility?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Are call buttons in lobbies and halls mounted at 42 inches (105cm) (on center) above the floor with no access obstructions?

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

The buttons are at 120cm above the floor.

The elevators have marks for blind people.

• Does the elevator have minimum inside dimensions of 54 x 80 inches (140 x 205 cm) and a minimum clear door opening of 36 inches (92cm)? Note: If the elevator door is not on center of the elevator entrance, the interior dimensions should be 54 x 68 inches (140 x 173cm).

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is the open space between the outside floor surface and the elevator platform no greater than 1-1/4 inches (3cm)?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Are the buttons on the inside of the elevator tactile readable?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Transportation

• Is there any mean of accessible transportation available during the Conference? (it means a public or private bus/car/van etc where the wheelchair user should be able to travel seated in the wheelchair).

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Desirable items

Signage

• Is adequate signage placed in standardized, appropriate locations throughout the building or facility? (Signs can be used to designate permanent rooms and spaces, or provide direction and information - please look for the International Symbol of Accessibility)

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

Public restrooms

• Is there an accessible restroom for each gender clearly marked with an International Symbol of Accessibility?

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

There are only two restrooms (for each gender) with no accessibility option.

• Do restroom entrances have a clear opening (free of protrusions and obstructions) of 32 inches and maneuvering clearance adjacent to the push and pull side of doors?

( ) yes ( ) no (X) n/a

• Is the lavatory mounted so that the counter (rim) surface is no higher than 34 inches (85cm) from the floor surface?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Does the men’s restroom have at least one stall-type or wall-hung urinal with an elongated rim which is mounted at a maximum of 17 inches (40cm) above the floor?

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

Meeting rooms, hacklabs, talk rooms

• Are the spaces for people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids near accessible exits?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

• Is a temporary ramp for the podium or head table available? Note: Maximum slope of ramp is 1 inch (2.5cm) vertical rise in every 12 inches (30cm) of horizontal distance.

( ) yes (X) no ( ) n/a

The slope of ramp is 30cm vertical rise in every 1mt.

Restaurants (don't forget the official dinner place)

• Is the restaurant staff able and willing to make reasonable accommodations for patrons such as making minor menu changes, reading menus, and assisting with trays?

(X) yes ( ) no ( ) n/a

Main sources

Universal Design Principles - North Carolina State University

ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines

Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) - Checklist for Buildings and Facilities

Ontario Trillium Foundation - Accessibility Tip Sheet