Below are several best practices that the DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center was made aware of in the region in the past year. These practices were identified because these innovative ideas helped establish procedures that broaden accessibility with in all aspects of their respective communities and towns. These best practices can be utilized in your own community to help spread the promise of the ADA, ensuring accessibility for everyone regardless of ability.

Maintaining accessible Features

At University of Wisconsin-Madison:

• Snow Removal
  • Sidewalks and curb ramps are usually secondary to road clearing. The University of Wisconsin as created a process where individuals with mobility impairments can request a Physical Plant employee accompany them to clear snow from curb ramps along their pedestrian route. This makes it possible for those with mobility impairments access to the campus after a snowfall.
• Transit
  • All buses are wheelchair accessible
  • A minivan is assigned as a primary Paratransit vehicle, improving service because the minivan can maneuver closer to buildings than buses.
• Parking
  • Accessible stalls are located closest to the accessible entrances
  • Parking permits are provided to people with temporary disabilities as well as permanent.
• Areas of Rescue
  • UW has 110 areas of rescue assistance in 13 different buildings. Signs designate these areas and have a button available to be pushed by the person needing assistance so emergency personnel know their location.

At Indiana Department of Natural Resources

• Education
  • staff at every and all location should know the requirements of the ADA and why they need to implement the changes recommended.
• Training with visual examples
  • it sticks better in people's minds if visual stimuli are provided
• Enforce from top-down
  • This conveys importance of the task.
• Follow up communication
• Formation of ADA committee made up of a representative from each of the property-holding division who has power to start work

At Village of Arlington Heights, IL

• Upkeep of accessible designs and buildings
• Barriers
  • Learning about laws and identifying barriers to accessibility
  • Village of Arlington Heights has implemented policies and practices to prevent installation of barriers as well as removing existing barriers when possible
  • Review of all building plans and design-inaccessibility is corrected before construction starts
• Sidewalks
  • "sidewalk program"- schedules repairs in each quadrant based on the severity of the trip hazard (trip hazard is determined in inches-highest get first priority)
  • Snow removal from sidewalks in winter
  • Encouraging neighbors, private business owners to clear their surrounding sidewalks through public service announcements
• Parking
  • Police enforce reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities
  • Kept signs updated as to law of fine (raise in state of Illinois to 250) and enforcing it

Removal of Existing Barriers

• Education
  • Spreading knowledge of ADA requirements
  • Give reasons why as a business it is better if they make themselves accessible-now open to a number of more customers
  • Identify improvements that would be lowest cost to the organization/business
• Facility Evaluation
  • Site indentified by community member or business owner inquires about an evaluation
  • Trained staff and volunteers provide on-site analysis, detailed written report with affordable suggested modifications
  • Pictures of barrier along with pictures of accessible features are a benefit to the report

Accessible Temporary Events

• Temporary structures that are on governmental entities or public accommodations are not exempt from the ADA-they must still be accessible
• Awareness
  • Contact state and government entities that are hosting a temporary event-make sure they know about accessibility laws and requirements
  • Talk to event managers about accessibility requirements when an event is not accessible, asking them to make themselves accessible
  • Take the initiative of calling temporary venues to find out if they are accessible and explain to them why they should be