Oak Park Universal Access Program 

for Places of Public Accommodation

Accessibility Checklist for Existing Buildings in Oak Park, Illinois 

based on both the ADA Regulations and the Illinois Accesibility Code

Adapted from AChecklist for Existing Facilities@ by Adaptive Environments Center, Inc. And Barrier Free Environments, Inc., 1992.

Types of buildings considered Places of Public Accommodations:

Inn, hotel, motel (not including bed & breakfast buildings which have 5 or fewer rooms for rent and which is proprietor-occupied).

Restaurant serving food or drink.

Theater, stadium, or other place of exhibition or entertainment.

Auditorium, lecture hall, or other place of public gathering.

Bakery, grocery store, clothing store, hardware store, shopping center, or other sales or rental center.

Laundromat, dry cleaner, bank, barber shop, beauty shop, travel service, shoe-repair service, funeral parlor, gas station, office of accountant or lawyer, pharmacy, insurance office, professional office of a health care provider, hospital, or other service establishment.

Terminal, depot, or other station used for public transportation.

Museum, library, gallery, or other place of public display or collection.

Park, zoo, amusement park or other place of recreation.

Nursery school, elementary school, secondary school, undergraduate or post graduate private school, or other place of education, not owned or controlled by a religious organization.

Day care center, senior citizen center, homeless shelter, food bank, adoption agency, or other social service center establishment.

Gymnasium, health spa, bowling alley, golf course, or othe place of public exercise or recreation.

Where no alterations, additions, or new construction is proposed to take place to a Place of Public Accommodation, the Tenant or Owner should allocate funds for barrier removal in accordance with the following priority table.

Relative costs in table are as follows:

Low: $0 to $100

Medium: $100 to $1000

High: More than $1000

Priorities	Barrier-removal checklist	Suggested barrier-removal or alternative solutions	Relative cost
Priority 1: Accessible Entrance
1-1 Parking	Is parking lot gravel?	Pave accessible parking spaces and access to sidewalks	Low
	Are there sufficient accessible parking spaces? Total spacesAccessible 1-201 space 21-502 spaces 51-753 spaces 76-1004 spaces	Restripe lot to provide correct number of accessible spaces.	Low
	Are all accessible parking spaces 16'-0" wide with half of space diagonally striped?	Restripe lot to create correct width for accessible spaces	Low
	Are accessible parking spaces located on the shortest possible path to an accessible entrance to the building?	Restripe lot	Low
	Does each accessible parking space have a AReserved@ sign with a $50 fine sign on a post or on the wall?Is there a AVan Accessible@ sign on at least 1 space in every 8 accessible spaces?	Add required signs and remove non-complying signs	Low
	If spaces are in garage structure, is there a 98" minimum height clearance for at least 1 in every 8 accessible spaces for vans?	Move accessible spaces to location where 98" vertical clearance is available	Low
1-2  Passenger Loading Zones	If the building is provided with a passenger loading zone, is there a 60" wide access walk from the loading zone to the front door of the building?	Provide access walk.	Medium
	Is there a 114" high vertical clearance to the passenger loading zone?	Relocate passenger loading zone to provide required clearance. Eliminate passenger loading zone.	High Low
1-3  Path of Travel	Is there a sidewalk that leads to an accessible entrance?	Provide sidewalk.	Medium
	Is the sidewalk stable, firm and slip-resistant?	Reconstruct sidewalk.Use concrete, asphalt, or tight jointed masonry.	Medium
	Is the sidewalk at least 36" wide?	Reconstruct sidewalk.	Medium
	If the sidewalk is less than 60" wide, is there passing spaces at least 60" square every 200 feet along the path?	Install passing space landings.	Low
	If objects protrude within the sidewalk area, can they be detected by a blind person with a cane? In order to be detected by a cane, an object must be within 27" of the ground.Objects hanging overhead must be at least 80" above the sidewalk level.Objects that protrude 4" or less from a wall do not have to be removed.	Remove protruding objects. Construct a guard around protruding object that can be detected by a cane. Trim overhanging branches above 80" above sidewalk.	Low Medium Low
	Are there curb ramps at every curb along the accessible sidewalk to the building entrance?	Install curb ramp.	Medium
	Do curb ramps have detectable warning strips on sloping surface? By Illinois requirements, detectable warnings are 1/4" to 3/4' wide parallel grooves in concrete spaced 1" to 2 3/4" on center.	Reconstruct concrete curb ramp to provide detectable warnings. Add surfacing to existing curb ramps to comply with detectable warning design.	Medium Medium
	Do curb ramps have no more than 1 in 12 slope?	Reconstruct curb ramp.	Medium
	Do sides of curb ramps have slopes with no more than 1 in 10 where pedestrians must pass across curb ramp?	Reconstruct curb ramp. Install guard rails.	Medium Medium
	Are there stairs or steps along the sidewalk that leads to the accessible entrance to the building?	Re-route the sidewalk to eliminate the steps. Install an accessible ramp along the sidewalk. Install a platform lift or a stair lift	Medium High High
	Are the slopes of ramps no greater than  1 in 12? At least one foot of ramp length is required for each inch of rise	Lengthen ramp to decrease slope. Relocate ramp. Reconfigure ramp to include landing and switchback	Medium Medium Medium
	Do ramps with slopes of greater than 1 in 20 and lengths greater than 72" or height greater than 6" have handrails on both sides?	Add handrails.	Medium
	Is top of handrail 34" above ramp surface?	Remove and re-set handrail height.	Medium
	Is handrail 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" in diameter?	Remove and replace handrail.	Medium
	Does ramp have slip-resistant surface?	Roughen surface or add slip-resistant surface to ramp.	Low
	Does ramp have edge-protection? Edge protection can be either be closely spaced balusters on the handrail, 2" min. high curbs, walls or 12" wide platform extension.	Reconstruct ramp or railing to provide edge protection.	Low
	Is there a 60" long landing at top and bottom of ramp and at every 30" rise or every 30 foot run of ramp?	Reconstruct ramp to provide landings.	High
1-4 Entrance to Building	Are there stairs at the main entrance of the building?	Provide an alternative accessible entrance that is not a service entrance. Provide a platform lift or a stair lift. Provide a ramp.	Medium High High
	Do all inaccessible entrances have signs indicating the location of the nearest accessible entrance?	Provide signs at or before inaccessible entrances.	Low
	Is entrance door min. 32" wide clear when opened?	Install wider door. Remove and install offset hinges to create wider opening when door is fully open. Assure that the door opening is at least 29 1/2" wide clear if replacement of door is not affordable.	Medium Medium Low
	Is there at least 18" clearance on the pull side of doors?	Move door. Reverse door swing, if possible. Move or remove adjacent partitions or furniture.	Medium Medium Low