ADA Build GT Unedited

ADA Build-it-Right
Unedited Corvallis, OR Gazette Times Letter 2003

As I see Corvallis from my wheel chair.

I want to help Corvallis become a "disabled friendly" town. The Americans with Disabilities Act became law in 1990. It declared that places of public accommodation - retail businesses - be made accessible to the disabled. Today newly constructed businesses are accessible but existing businesses haven't made progress in 13 years.
All this discussion about local vs. big box businesses and remaking downtown Corvallis has prompted me to write about this possibility to improve the disabled access in our friendly town.

I have been a disability advocate for most of my 16 years in Corvallis. When I first got involved I started out angry and pushed for strict compliance with the ADA. I was counseled by other advocates that wasn't the way we did things in Corvallis. We used the "Corvallis way" of friendly discussion and negotiation. I have tried to use the "Corvallis way" to make incremental improvements in access around town.

Recently I discovered that the Visitor Information Center at Corvallis Tourism was not accessible to the disabled. There is no disabled parking space and no curb ramp to front door. I am working with Corvallis Tourism to remedy this. We devised a plan to offer drive in service for disabled visitors.

This prompts me to take the "kid gloves" off and dispense with the "Corvallis way". There are too many inaccessible businesses and many architects and developers make mistakes in new construction. It is time for a committed effort to bring the Corvallis community up to standard so we can build our reputation as a "disabled friendly" town. Eugene has had that reputation for years.

Now the good news about a few businesses.

1. New Morning Bakery has always been accessible with good bathrooms.

2. The City of Corvallis is proactive on disability access. Public Works is aware of accessibility and asks for help if they have questions. Parks and Recreation promotes access in our parks and especially the highly accessible Riverfront Park. Employees of each department are regular participants in Access Benton County.

3. The newer national chain stores along 9th and along Circle to the East provide good disabled access.

Now the bad news for other facilities.

2. There is a grocery store with no wheel chair accessible check out stand.

3. The newly constructed Oregon DMV building had a bathroom that did not meet state access codes. The men's toilet stall was 48" wide instead of the required 60" to permit side transfer from a wheel chair. Instead of rebuilding the bathroom to code they converted the bathroom into single use and removed the offending toilet stall panel.

4. There is a bank built since the ADA became law which was designed smaller than 900 sq. ft. to avoid compliance and is inaccessible with a step in the entrance. There is space for a sloping sidewalk that would have provided access at no additional cost during initial construction.

5. Some drug and gift stores have expensive and breakable merchandise displayed near the isle and on the floor that makes it very difficult for a wheel chair to navigate without being a bull in a china shop.

I have many more examples of good and bad access.

OK, where do we go from here?

I am available to speak to service clubs and the business organizations in town.

The city council could appoint a Corvallis Accessibility Advisory Committee or this could be taken on by the business organizations.

Businesses can choose to make access a priority. There are tax credits for modifications.

Encourage businesses to come to Corvallis that make access a priority; i.e. stores with wide isles, accessible bathrooms and great customer service. Most national chains are noted for good accessibility planning.

People interested in Corvallis accessibility can attend the Access Benton County meetings the third Thursday of the month at noon - check FYI.

Wayne H. Yarnall