As I see it

Make ‘friendly' Corvallis friendlier to the disabled

By WAYNE YARNALL

I want to help Corvallis become a "disabled friendly" town. The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) declared that places of public accommodation be accessible to the disabled. Today newly constructed businesses are accessible, but some businesses still pose barriers to the disabled. All this discussion about local vs. big box businesses and remaking downtown Corvallis has prompted me to discuss ways Corvallis might improve disabled access in our friendly town.

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

Some businesses that already deserve recognition:

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

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.

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

Now the bad news: A person in a wheelchair cannot get in the front door of many Corvallis businesses. Others have made progress, but only after a fashion.

The newly constructed Oregon DMV building had a bathroom that did not meet state access codes. The men's toilet stall was 48 inches wide instead of the required 60 inches necessary to permit transfer from a wheel chair. Instead of rebuilding the bathroom to code, the building's owners converted the bathroom to single-occupant use by removing the toilet stall panel.

Other businesses may not be aware that displaying expensive and breakable merchandise displayed near the aisle and on the floor makes it very difficult for a wheelchair to navigate between aisles without becoming a "bull in a china shop."

I have many more examples of good and bad access, but the question is where do we go from here? 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 aisles, accessible bathrooms and great customer service. Most national chains are noted for good accessibility planning. Local ones could follow suit.

People interested in Corvallis accessibility can attend the "Access Benton County" meetings the third Thursday of the month at Corvallis Friends Meeting at noon. The next meeting is Jan. 15.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wayne Yarnall has been a Corvallis resident since 1987. He retired from CH2M Hill in 1990 because of the disabling effects of a mild form of muscular dystrophy. Yarnall sometimes uses a cane, power wheel chair, three-wheel cart and other mobility aids.More information is available on his Web site, http://adabuild.com. He can be reached at wayne @ adabuild.com and is available to speak with interested groups, free of charge.