2003-11-07 TDLNR - Laserfiche WebLink

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HARTMAN:Okay. I have a big concern from the standpoint that when theyÓre doing these projects, they refer to them as ADA projects. Now ADA to a lot of people they just all of sudden throw up their arms and say, ÐMy God, wh they use what is called ADAG facility requirements, guidelines, building guidelines. So the ADA, basically, refers to the building guidelines. But all governmental agencies, Federal, State, City and County come under Section 504 of the Am Disabilities Act in 1973. And that basically relates to what is called ÐProgrammatic Access,Ñ not necessarily strictly physical access. And as I read through the review there, I see everythingÓs almost relegated to physical access and not programmatic access. And that concerns me because if we donÓt do programmatic access, the disabled community is going to miss out on a lot of very valuable information if they get down there as to whatÓs there, what can they do, what itÓs all about and what does it mean. So that is my big concern. Also, I donÓt see in the plans, of course, I realize these arenÓt all detailed plans. But a pathway theyÓre going to build down to the water, thatÓs fine. But I donÓt see anything in relation to what is the slope of it. If they go by the guidelines of ADA, itÓs 5 percent. How long is the pathway? If the pathwayÓs a quarter of a mile or half a mile, anybody going up in a wheelchair at 5 percent is just isnÓt going to make it. And so depending upon how long the pathways are there could be and probably should be some cut-outs to where a person can rest. Now, also, we have to address issues related to visually-impaired people. That may sound strange but visually-impaired people can really see if theyÓre given the opportunity to, someone to tell them or they can read themselves what theyÓre looking at. And, so, there should be signage along these trails and along these pathways in Braille. To be a little more sophisticated, there could even be audio; but I donÓt think theyÓre going to be running audio through there. But those are the kind of improvements that really need to be addressed so that when a disabled person goes down there they can experience everything that the community of non-disabled people are experiencing. And thatÓs because thatÓs what the Americans with Disabilities Act says, give you the experience. Now even on your trails, I know the trails of what IÓve seen, I donÓt even know how a 4-wheel drive can get on some of those. But by the same token I think thereÓs areas, maybe for a very, very short distance that they could improve enough just so that a person could experience something like that because we donÓt get their experience. And I know there are a lot of artifact things in there that are probably going to be looked at by the citizens that go down there. But, again, are we going to have accessible routes to those things so that people with disabilities can go down there or over there wherever they are and see them and have a sign that says where are they? So thereÓs just all kinds of nuances that could be added to this project that would really make it a very good project. IÓm not against the project at all. I think itÓs a wonderful project. But I would like to see it cover as much as we can within the guidelines of 7