62 DIVERSEability Magazine www.diverseabilitymagazine.com

FEATURE

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very day in the US, a conversation like the following occurs: Employee with disabili- ty: I can't do X because of Y. Some examples of this might include, "I can't use this conference room because of the gvsojuvsf!dpohvsbujpo/!ps!J!dbou!nblf!dpg- fee without asking for help because the sup- plies don't have tactile labels." Boe! uif! gbdjmjujft! nbobhfs! sfqmjft-! Uif! gbdjmjuz!jt!dpnqmjbou!xjui!uif!Bnfsjdbot!xjui! Ejtbcjmjujft!Bdu/ The disconnect between what employees with disabilities need and the status reported by facilities' teams results from the facilities' personnel not understanding that there is way more to physical work campus accessibility than the sign off by the inspector before the building was occupied. Most post-occupancy campus accessibility issues fall into these broad categories: Bathrooms Food Pgdf!Tqbdf!0!Dpogfsfodf!sppnt Events Ejhjubm

Bathrooms

Problem: There is a hashtag that sums it all vq;!Cbuisppnt!bsf!$OpuBDvqcpbse/!Uif!cbui- sppn!nbz!ibwf!cffo!cvjmu!up!cf!BEB!bddft-

Physical Campus Accessibility - More Than Just an Occupancy Certificate

By Sheri Byrne-Haber, Accessibility Architect @ VMware

sible, but once you start throwing stuff into it - I've seen packages of extra toilet paper, boxes of paper towels, a broken toilet from an- puifs!tubmm!boe!uif!vcjrvjupvt!npq!boe!cvdlfu! - the clear space needed to turn a wheelchair becomes blocked and the stall is no longer ac- cessible. Which is a really bad thing if only one bddfttjcmf!upjmfu!jt!sfrvjsfe/ Solution: Make sure the janitorial staff knows to put things where they belong and not in an accessible stall. Not your staff? You still might be held accountable since you contracted for the work, especially if there are complaints that go unaddressed. Put up signs that state clear- ly that people with disabilities have priority for using the accessible stalls. Have a number posted where people can call if there are issues.

Food

Problem: From buffet lines, garbage can and drink cooler door handles, to placement of cof- fee supplies, utensils and condiments, lack of food-related accessibility in an occupied work- space can be problematic for people with dis- bcjmjujft/!Xbzoejoh!gps!qfpqmf!xip!bsf!cmjoe! is as much of a problem as placement height is for people with mobility issues or people who are short stature. Solution: Make sure cafeteria staff have been usbjofe!po!tfuujoh!vq!cvggfu!mjoft!up!BEB!dsjuf- ria for both spacing and height. Have a system gps!bttjtujoh!qfpqmf!xip!bsf!cmjoe!up!fbtjmz!oe! uifjs!xbz!gspn!qpjou!B!up!qpjou!C/