ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update Midpeninsual Regional Open Space District
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ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update Midpeninsual Regional Open Space District Draft – Revised September 2018 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District DRAFT - Revised September 2018 This page intentionally left blank Contents Contents ......................................................................................................................................i Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... iii Accessibility Standards ....................................................................................................... iii Accessibility of District Programs, Activities, and Services .................................................. iv Accessibility of District Facilities .......................................................................................... iv Removal of Barriers to Accessibility at District Facilities ..................................................... vii 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update ................................................ 1-1 1.2 Legislative Mandate .............................................................................................. 1-1 1.3 Discrimination and Accessibility ............................................................................. 1-4 1.4 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Requirements and Process ................... 1-5 1.5 Self-Evaluation ...................................................................................................... 1-7 1.6 Transition Plan Update and Facility Assessments ................................................. 1-7 1.7 Regulatory Framework .......................................................................................... 1-8 1.8 District ADA Resources ....................................................................................... 1-10 1.9 Public Outreach ................................................................................................... 1-14 2. Definitions ...................................................................................................................... 2-15 List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................ 2-22 3. Self-Evaluation of Policy and Programmatic Accessibility .............................................. 3-23 3.1 Staff Questionnaire .............................................................................................. 3-23 3.2 Policy, Plan, and Guideline Review ..................................................................... 3-46 4. Transition Plan Update................................................................................................... 4-63 4.1 Transition Plan for Open Space Preserves and Buildings .................................... 4-63 4.2 Barrier Removal Scheduling ................................................................................ 4-66 4.3 Facility Evaluations .............................................................................................. 4-67 4.4 Criteria for Prioritizing Facilities ........................................................................... 4-68 4.5 Transition Plan Update Schedule for Open Space Preserves and Buildings ........ 4-70 4.6 Easy Access Trail Facilities ................................................................................. 4-74 5. Resources ...................................................................................................................... 5-79 5.1 California and National Organizations Supporting People with Disabilities .......... 5-79 DRAFT ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update (revised)| i 5.2 Guidance Documents and Organizations—General ............................................ 5-81 5.3 Guidance Documents and Articles—Web Design ................................................ 5-82 5.4 Guidance Documents and Articles—Signage ...................................................... 5-84 5.5 Guidance Documents and Articles—Creating Accessible Documents ................. 5-85 5.6 Guidance Documents—Historic Properties .......................................................... 5-86 5.7 Guidance Documents and Organizations—Emergency Preparedness Planning for People with Access and Functional Needs ........................................................... 5-86 5.8 Federal, State, and Local Laws, Standards, and Ordinances .............................. 5-88 5.9 People-First Language ........................................................................................ 5-92 5.10 Service Animal Policies ....................................................................................... 5-93 5.11 Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD) Policies ..................................... 5-95 6. Appendices Appendix A: Program Accessibility Questionnaire Appendix B: ADA Facility Assessment Reports Appendix C: Public Outreach Note: Terms included in Definitions appear in bold the first time they appear in this document. ii | Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Executive Summary The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s (the District or Midpen) existing Access Plan for Persons with Disabilities (1993) is being updated and replaced by means of this new, more current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update (Plan), based on the requirements set forth in title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Section 1 of the Plan provides an overview of the planning process (summarized in Figure 1) and the legislative mandate governing the process. Section 2 of the Plan includes definitions and acronyms used in the Plan. Public Comment Period Figure 1. ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update Timeline Accessibility Standards In compliance with the ADA, the District has designated an ADA Coordinator. The ADA Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the District’s efforts to comply with title II and for investigating any complaints that the District has violated title II of the ADA. The ADA Coordinator is also responsible for coordinating the District’s efforts to comply with all other applicable state and federal physical and program accessibility requirements. The ADA states that a public entity must reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures to avoid discrimination against people with disabilities. This Plan will assist the District to identify policy, program, and physical barriers to accessibility and to develop barrier removal solutions that will facilitate the opportunity of access to all individuals. DRAFT ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update (revised)| iii At the time of the facilities evaluations, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards) and the 2016 California Access Compliance Advisory Reference Manual (CBC) were used to identify barriers at District facilities. The 2015 Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Standards for outdoor developed areas were used to identify barriers for elements not addressed in the ADA or CBC such as trails, outdoor recreation access routes, camping facilities, and other outdoor constructed features. Building codes and standards are revised every few years. The barrier evaluations conducted provide an assessment of current conditions as viewed by current code and provide a baseline for future barrier removal. Accessibility of District Programs, Activities, and Services Title II of the ADA emphasizes the accessibility of programs, activities, and services. This Plan addresses these issues by providing recommendations for action steps based on a comprehensive review of current practices, policies, plans, and guidelines, including an online questionnaire that was completed by District staff regarding the delivery of services to the public. This process included every department and program that provides services to the public. As noted in Section 3 of the Plan, many staff members report making modifications to practices and procedures to assist people with disabilities in receiving the services provided by the District, including providing materials in alternate formats and holding meetings in accessible locations. Information regarding the District’s obligations and polices related to providing accessible programs, activities, and services is available online at https://www.openspace.org/about- us/accessibility. Links to the District’s notice of non-discrimination based on disability, disability complaint procedures, how to request a disability-related modification, Accessible Open Space brochure, Easy Access Trails, Service Animal Policy, and OPDMD Policy are also posted on the Accessibility web page. A page on the District website, www.openspace.org/ADAPlanUpdate, includes updates on the ADA planning process, announcements for upcoming meetings, project timeline, an online comment card, and the District’s1993 Access Plan for Persons with Disabilities. A review of the District’s written policies, plans, guidelines, and programs (including selected construction details and specifications) was completed in 2018. Each review is listed with required or recommended actions for implementing specific improvements for providing access