municipality accessibility

ACCESSIBILITY IN THE

CITY OF HOUSTON

By: Adele Bosquez, SPT July 21,2009

Thoughts on Accessibility

“While we look for a cure, we really want to

help people living in the here and now. It‟s

really our responsibility to think, „What if it was

me in the wheelchair, wouldn‟t I want the

best?‟ “

~Christopher Reeve

Developing a Sensitive Eye

ADA compliance ≠ accessibility

Clean sidewalks

Clear ramps

Even surface transitions

Signage clearly identifying accessible entrances

Surfaces of ramps identified by color change

Intersections with curb cuts on each corner

Barrier-free paths

Light and other pole placement considerations

Efficiency of movement

Who Needs Accessibility?

The 9 year-old with Cerebral Palsy

The 13 year-old with a broken leg

The 18 year-old with a new Spinal Cord Injury

The 23 year-old recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

The 45 year-old battling fatigue during illness and treatment

The 54 year-old with arthritis

The 78 year-old with balance impairments

Our parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors

One day….maybe one of us?

Following are some examples of

accessibility concerns.

Around Houston

77030 (District C & D)

The Texas Medical Center

TMC: Fannin and Holcombe

A “ramp to nowhere” lead this individual into the intersection, but he is then trapped in traffic without a curb cut at his destination.

Will he make it before the light changes?

TMC: Holcombe and Bertner

The

uncovered

hole limited

this

individual‟s

ability to

maneuver

around the

VERY tight

spot left for

him to

navigate.

TMC: Braeswood and Holcombe

The Good: A

nice curb cut

leading the

pedestrian

into

crosswalks

for either

direction.

TMC: Braeswood and Holcombe

The Bad:

The “one-

way” curb

cut forces

the user to

enter

oncoming

traffic to

navigate the

intersection.

Municipal Facilities

Municipal Court 77002 (I,D,C)

Municipal

Court

entrance

with nine 7”

steps for

entry.

Where is the

ramp for

entry?

Municipal Court: Restricted Access

(cont.)

Restricted

Access

signs guard

the parking

lot where

ramps and

additional

handicapped

parking can

be found.

Municipal Court: Restricted Access

(cont.)

A nice accessible entrance and additional parking is located in this restricted area.

Where is the sign by the entrance referring people to this location?

Memorial Park: Tennis Center

77007 (G)

An uneven

entrance

and

uncovered

pipe under

the sink

make this

restroom

facility less

than ideal.

Common Concerns

Ramps to Nowhere 77030 (D)

6700 Fannin

Ramps to Nowhere 77018 (B)

Rosslyn and

43rd

One very

nice curb cut

that leads

into a curb.

Ramps with Obstacles 77030 (D)

Moursund

and

Braeswood

Obstacles

on the

incline make

navigation

difficult.

Ramps with Obstacles 77021 (D)

Near 5400

MLK

Poles at the

top of the

ramp make

this corner

difficult to

negotiate.

Ramps with Obstacles 77098 (G)

Left:

Kirby and

Westheimer

Right:

Shepherd

and

Westheimer

Ramps with Obstacles 77087 (I)

Colgate and

Park Place

Light pole in

the middle of

ramp.

Ramps with Obstacles 77087 (I)

Telephone

Rd and Park

Place

Ramp

blocked.

Sidewalks with Obstacles

77021 (I)

Near 5400

MLK

Ramps with Obstacles 77005 (C)

A ramp

leading to

two parking

spots.

Uneven Ramps 77007 (G)

Wescott and

Memorial

Overgrown Areas 77027 (C)

Richmond

and Weslyan

Overgrown Areas 77021 (D)

5400 MLK

A 9 inch

uncovered

utility box in

middle of

sidewalk

with metal

pole

protruding.

Overgrown Areas 77061 (E)

Telephone

Road

Uneven Transitions 77027 (C)

Cummins and Richmond

Narrow and uneven area does not allow the second wheel to touch the surface. She is stuck with a wheel spinning in air.

Uneven Transitions 77027 (C)

Although

well

designed

and

intentioned,

the median

concrete

slab has

settled

creating an

uneven

surface.

Intersections without ramps

77006 (C & D)

Montrose

and Welch

Intersections without ramps

77007 (G)

Shepherd

and

Memorial

What can city leaders do to encourage

change in our “disability-friendly” city?

A Local Restaurant

Men‟s Bathroom

*No

handicapped

stall

*Pipes under

sink not

covered

*No Grab

Bars

Women‟s Bathroom

*Narrow

hallway

*No

handicapped

stall

*No grab

bars

*Entry not

possible due

to 90 degree

turn

To access the “accessible” bathroom I had to go outside, down the ramp, through the garbage area, through the storeroom, past the ice machine, past the hot water heater, and through 2 NARROW doors that I had to pull myself through. Once there, I discovered the bathroom was in fact not accessible, as there were no grab bars.

Over the river and through the woods…to the

bathroom we shall go!

What can city leaders do to encourage

change in our “disability-friendly” city?

A Local Shopping Center

Navigating a Shopping Center

This outdoor

shopping

center was

largely

inaccessible.

American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act

$489 million infused into the Houston region

for transportation work

Construction is coming to a road near

you…but is a ramp?

While it may not be realistic to ask that every

sidewalk in Houston be rebuilt, this is the

perfect opportunity to build with accessibility in

mind!

Built before 1990…Who Cares?

When we, as a society, allow this excuse to

justify lower standards of accessibility, we

allow a soft bigotry to permeate our society.

We send a message to those who depend on

these accommodations that we value their

time, their access, and their energy less than

our own.

Over dramatic? Or, simply…the truth?

For the next week, be aware. Stop and think. Look around. Are the facilities that you utilize accessible? What obstacles would you face? How would youproblem solve? While we can never fully imitate or appreciate the challenges that mobility impairments bring, this can assist in highlighting the importance of accessibility for us all.

Is your day accessible?

Contact Information

Please contact me if you would like further

information or assistance.

Adele Bosquez, District D Resident

Adele.Bosquez@gmail.com