Disability

Is your Church Building Accessible?
Let's start with the parking lot. If there isn't a convenient place for a disabled person to park, chances are the person is going to drive off.

• Accessible parking spaces, according to Americans Disability Act (ADA) must be the nearest to the front door. They must be 96 inches wide and have a hash mark space beside them that is 60 inches wide. ADA standard is for every 25 regular parking spaces there must be one accessible space. For any accessible spaces there must be one van accessible space. Van accessible spaces must be 96 inches wide and have a hash mark space beside them that is 96 inches wide.
• ADA standard requires that an individual exiting his automobile in an accessible space must not have to walk behind more than his own car to get to the sidewalk.
• Any ramps needed must have a slope no more than 1 in 12: For every inch of rise there must be 12 inches of run. Ramps must be four feet wide, and any ramp four feet high or more must have a 36-inch high safety hand rail on each side, unless there is a wall on one side.
• All inside doors must be a minimum of 32 inches. Entrance/exit doors must be a minimum 36 inches. Double doors must have at least one side at 32 inches. The pull of all inside doors must be no more than five pounds; outside must have no more than seven pounds of pull.

If you need help with making your church accessible for disabled persons, contact Dik Johnson at: dik_johnson@yahoo.com or John Sampson at: ejdjcsa@earthlink.net