Is your office located on a route that is served by accessible public transportation?

Is the name and address of your building clearly visible from the street and sidewalk?

If visitors to your office need to navigate a main road to access the building, is there a pedestrian crosswalk close by?

Crosswalks served by an audible and visual trafficcrossing signal are preferred. Where there is a change in level, for example where the sidewalk meets the street, curb cuts are necessary.

Is accessible parking available for visitors?

At least one accessible parking space should be provided on the shortest, safest accessible route to the accessible building entrance.

Is the accessible parking space clearly marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility?

Provide signage to designate the barrier-free space(s) as reserved for permit holders.

Is the parking space firm and level?

Parking surfaces must be firm and level to be used safely. Avoid gravel.

Are curb cuts provided?

All sidewalks should have curb cuts at locations near parking and along the route to the primary entrance.

Is the space large enough to meet the needs of a visitor who uses a van equipped with a wheelchair lift?

Accessible car parking spaces need a minimum width of 2400mm plus a 1500mm wide access aisle. Van parking spaces need a minimum width of 3500mm plus a 1500mm wide access aisle for wheelchair lifts. The length of the space is determined by municipal bylaws. Two adjacent spaces may share the same access aisle.

Is the parking area and route to the entrance well lit?

Are the parking areas and route of travel properly maintained?

Snow and ice should be removed and uneven surfaces should be repaired as soon as possible.

Is the route to the entrance accessible?

Accessible routes should be unobstructed and have continuous, smooth, hard surfaces with no abrupt changes in level and should not require the use of stairs.

Is the route wide enough so someone using a wheelchair, scooter or service animal can travel safely?

The clear width should be at least 1600mm wide. The minimum clear space required by most mobility devices to turn around is 1670mm and should be available in areas such as landings and at intervals along longer routes so that someone using a wheelchair or scooter can turn around.

Is the route clear of protruding or low hanging objects?

Beware of signs, furniture, garbage cans, trees and other items that can pose a hazard to someone who is blind or has low vision. Avoid obstructions below knee level. A protruding object placed higher than 100mm above the floor is difficult to detect by a person using a white cane.

Does the route of travel require a ramp to make it accessible?

Ramp slopes should be a maximum of 1:12. Slopes of 1:16 to 1:20 are easier for most people to negotiate. That is: for every 1” of vertical rise, 12” of horizontal ramp is required (e.g. a 5” curb would require a 60” ramp to be built). A handrail is necessary on both sides of a ramp.

Is your office easily identified by signage?

For exterior areas, signs need to be located near the entrance between the ground and eye level and positioned where they will not cause injury to allow close inspection by someone with low vision.

Is your sign easy to read and understand?

Clear, high contrasting letters and uncluttered information (not too many messages) is easier to understand by people with low vision, cognitive and learning disabilities and people who are unfamiliar with the location.

Is your entrance accessible?

Your office should have a primary entrance that allows people with disabilities to approach and enter the building in the same manner as everyone else. The primary entrance should have level access, a low threshold and not require the use of stairs.

Does your office present itself as a welcoming environment?

A welcoming environment is important for all people and helps to highlight the safety and security (perceived and real) for people with a cognitive disability or mental illness.

Is your doorway wide enough for a person using a wheelchair or scooter to pass through?

Accessible doors and doorways within the building should provide a minimum of 810mm of clear space. That is, when the door is open, the space from the door to the opposite side of the doorframe should be a minimum of 810mm.

Is the door easy to open?

The exterior door should by easy to open with lever or “D”- type handles. A power door opener or automatic door is preferred.

Is your entrance easy to see?

The entrance should be clearly identified by signage, and by painting the door, or frame, in a different colour from the surrounding surfaces. Clear glass doors are difficult to see and pose a safety hazard. A strip of contrasting colour mounted continuously 1350mm above the floor will help make it more visible.

Is your entrance well lit?

Provide lighting at entrances so that there is not a sudden drop in lighting levels from the outside to the inside in the daytime; highlight obstructions that may prove a hazard to people who have low vision. Make sure signs are well lit.

Does your interior space provide a clear path of travel?

People with disabilities should be able to gain access to all areas in your office. Interior routes should be minimum 1100mm wide with a 1600mm by 1600mm turn-around space a minimum of 30m apart in long corridors.

Is your space easy to navigate?

People with a vision loss benefit from simple, straightforward design and layout. Large open concept areas may be confusing and difficult to navigate by people who are blind or visually impaired and people with cognitive disabilities.

Designing your space so that the walls, floors, doors and furniture are high in colour contrast will aid in navigation.

Is your space clear of protruding or low hanging objects?

Obstructions or hazards in circulation areas like the reception area, lobby or corridors should be avoided. Low hanging signs, suspended lighting or other potential hazards such as plants or garbage cans pose detection problems for a person with low vision.

Is your space noisy?

Open concept spaces can be difficult to hear in as sound reverberates. Breaking spaces up into smaller spaces by using portable screens may be helpful as this isolates sounds and reduces background noise. Avoid the use of hard surfaces, especially on floors as sound can echo, making it difficult to hear.

Are the floor finishes safe?

Loose rugs and mats are a tripping hazard and can also hinder wheelchair users. They should be avoided. Floors should be finished with nonslip, non-glare surfaces. Carpets should be of short, dense pile. Avoid floor patterns that are visually confusing.

Is your office cluttered with unnecessary furniture and other items?

An office that is overly cluttered could be hazardous to people with mobility disabilities or someone with a vision loss. Be aware of items that could present a barrier and avoid objects in unexpected places like extra chairs placed in a hallway, washroom supplies stored in the accessible stall and boxes received by delivery stored in front of the reception desk.

Are the signs throughout your office clear, concise and consistent?

Good signs and sign systems will stop people feeling worried or confused and prevent people from getting lost. Signs should be:

• clear (easy to see and understand);
• concise (simple, short and to the point); and
• consistent (signs meaning the same thing should always appear the same and be consistently located).

Can the signs be read by someone with a vision loss?

Use large print signs with a clear typeface and contrasted from the background such as light coloured characters or symbols on a dark background or dark coloured characters or symbols on a light background.

Signs placed on glass panels or doors can be difficult to read and should be avoided.

Key directional signs like washrooms, exits, and room numbers should contain raised (tactile) and Braille lettering.

Is your reception area easy to recognize?

A reception area or information point that is obvious as soon as a building is entered is helpful for everyone. A reception desk that is located directly in front of the entry point to the building is preferred.

Is the reception area well lit?

Lighting should avoid patches of sudden changes from brightly lit to dark areas. Good general lighting and lighting on the faces of the reception staff will help people with low vision and people with a hearing loss.

Provide different lighting options. For some people, glare and bright light reduces functional vision, for others not enough light has the same effect.

Desks and counters should be placed so that light falls on faces and does not come from behind.

Is your reception desk accessible to someone who is seated?

Counter tops or reception desks should have a clear area of approach in front of them and counters that are no higher than 860mm above the floor with clear knee space below.

Self-serve materials should be placed so that a person who is seated can reach the materials safely.

Is your reception area in an open space?

Reception areas located behind glass windows present a barrier to someone with a hearing or vision loss.

Are office desks and meeting room tables accessible?

Ensure that tables in areas such as offices and meeting rooms, are a maximum of 860mm high, and have a clear knee space below.

Office furnishings that are a contrasting colour from the floors and walls make them easier to be seen by someone with low vision.

Have you taken into account the needs of voters who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing?

Purchase a TTY (teletypewriter or text telephone) and make it available next to the telephone in a common area for public use.

Ensure your internal TTY system is compatible and accessible to receive and make TTY calls from and to the public. All staff should be trained in its use.

Make sure there is an unobstructed view of people’s faces in all areas where verbal visual communication may take place.

Reduce background noise as much as possible.

Maximize the use of written information.

Any television set displaying information for the public should be captioned.

Paper and a pen should be made available for deaf voters to communicate with office staff if requested.

Make staff aware of procedures to obtain the services.

Have you taken into account the needs of voters who are blind or visually impaired?

Be prepared to make written information available in alternative format if requested. Alternative formats can include large print, Braille, audio cassette, or disk.

Make sure that materials provided in print or large print are of high contrast. Fourteen point, Arial or Verdana fonts are very reader friendly. Avoid 3rd or 4th generation photocopies.

If forms need to be filled out, they should either be available in large print, or staff should offer to assist people to fill forms out.

Have you taken into account the needs of voters who have environmental sensitivities?

Staff members and volunteers should refrain from wearing fragrances, and keep their use of scented products, for example highly fragrant deodorants or aftershave, to a minimum.

Does your office have an accessible washroom?

If modifying an existing washroom is not possible, design of at least one individual accessible unisex washroom should be considered. Although larger in size, unisex washrooms provide an individual with the ability to have assistance by a caregiver or spouse.

Are fixtures and accessories placed so that they can be accessed by someone using and wheelchair or scooter?

Appropriate transfer space on one side and in front of the toilet should be provided. Flush controls should be located on the transfer side of the toilet. Accessories (such as light switches, mirrors, soap dispensers, hand dryers, coat hooks, and shelves) should be mounted at a height that is accessible from a seated position. Dispensers and other accessories should not block the safe use of the grab bars, transfer or maneuvering space.

Has customer service and disability awareness training been provided as part of regular office training procedures?

Customer service training for staff should familiarize them with the accessible features of the office, the availability of extra help or adjustments to the way the service is provided, to make sure services are accessible to voters with disabilities. Disability awareness training will give staff the confidence to offer help in appropriate ways.

Do you monitor and review the accessibility improvements you have made to your office and services?

It is important that accessibility improvements are regularly reviewed and maintained to ensure that they continue to benefit voters with disabilities.

Have you established a Fire and Safety Plan for the evacuation of people with disabilities?

All facilities should have an Emergency Policy and Emergency Evacuation Plan that addresses the needs of people with disabilities.

Are there systems in place to visually alert people with hearing loss to emergency situations?

Make sure your fire alarms have both a visual and an audible signal and are strategically placed to be seen and heard from all areas including the washrooms.