The purpose of the study was to measure and analyze accessibility of area vocational facilities in Indiana to physically disabled persons. Empirical data did not exist to determine accessibility of area vocational facilities in Indiana. The vocational facilities were all self-contained, or not attached to comprehensive high schools.Federal fiscal support of vocational education had been constant beginning with the Morrill Act of 1862. Intent of federal legislation toward accessibility and vocational education was to insure any person, regardless of handicap, an unobstructed, free and appropriate education.Enrollment of secondary vocational education students in Indiana has increased over ninety percent since 1967. Vocational schools' receiving federal monetary support have mandated accessibility for handicapped persons. Therefore, it is important that existing vocational facilities maintain accessibility compliance and future buildings be designed with accessibility for handicapped persons kept paramount.Twenty-two area vocational facilities were visited and surveyed between December, 1981 and March, 1982. The instrument used to survey vocational facilities was The Revised Accessibility Checklist as recommended by the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.The Revised Accessibility Checklist was based on American National Standards Institute Specifications 117.1. ANSI Specification 117.1 was the established standard used in determining compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 required all buildings receiving federal funds be accessible to physically handicapped persons. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 required structures to be in compliance by June, 1980.Individual vocational facilities were evaluated according to specific accessibility checklist criteria. Classifications in determining individual building accessibility were Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Poor. None was judged excellent, four were good, none was average, fourteen were below average and four were poor.Conclusions based on the findings and data were:The majority of facilities were not accessible to physically disabled persons. 2) Federal legislation mandating accessibility has had limited effect. 3) Facilities constructed after 1975 were in substantial compliance with accessibility standards. 4) Parking lots, restrooms, water fountains and telephones could be feasibly altered to comply with accessibility standards.Recommendations for specific renovations to the twenty-two facilities surveyed were made for improving accessibility.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/177915 |
| Date | January 1982 |
| Creators | MacOwan, John M. |
| Contributors | Snyder, Jack F. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 4, x, 179 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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