by Danny Hilton-Chalfen, Ph.D., Coordinator
Before the academic computing world knew about voice synthesis and other technologies to assist users with disabilities, wheelchair access was the only consideration made for those with disabilities in the computer lab. Now an accessible computer workstation in the university computing environment might have a Braille printer, voice recognition or special keyboards, among other peripherals. With the exciting new computer technology available today for persons with disabilities, it is easy to overlook some traditional concerns for wheelchair access in the microcomputer lab. Whether you are involved in setting up a new lab, reconfiguring an existing lab, or looking over your existing facility to see if it's wheelchair accessible, the following considerations may be of help.
The location of a wheelchair accessible computer workstation is an important consideration in the total lab layout. The accessible workstation should be located in the computing lab space itself, not in a separate room. It is important for the user with a disability to have the same access to lab consultants and fellow students as other users. Think "mainstream" when making any workstation access decisions regarding your users with disabilities.
Generally speaking, workstations that are close to the main lab entrance and on the outer end of a bank or row of workstations are preferable. This will avoid the person in a wheelchair having to navigate through crowded aisles.
It may not be feasible for all workstations in a particular lab to be wheelchair accessible due to space considerations. The workstation or stations that are accessible can be designated for priority use by persons with disabilities. In some campus computing facilities these stations are used by others when not in use by persons with disabilities, with the understanding that they must be given up if needed by a user with a disability. The workstations that are accessible can be marked by the international symbol of accessibility, above.
The considerations for workstation height and width for users in wheelchairs will differ from other users. Additionally, today's motorized wheelchairs are often wider and higher than their predecessors. Generally speaking, a table for wheelchair access should be a minimum of 27" from the floor to the bottom of the table. I have been working with students whose wheelchairs need a full 32" clearance. The table top should not exceed 34" in height. A table can simply be raised on wooden blocks to the needed height, or a height adjustable table will allow you to raise or lower the table with a simple crank. We have found the latter to be very useful at our public access workstations.
Allow ample room behind the workstation for the wheelchair to be maneuvered in and out. Allow at least 36" between the back of the workstation table and the front of the table or wall behind the workstation. Allow at least 60" clearance between tables if someone will be seated behind the wheelchair.
As the enrollment of students with disabilities at UCLA is on the rise, plan for future growth with a long table. A 4 or 5 foot long table will allow for the addition of adaptive peripherals more easily than the 3 foot long tables common in many computing facilities. This workstation may then meet the needs of several students with different disabilities in your school or department.
The new motorized wheelchairs can be up to 30" in width. Plan for 36" wide doors. The clear width opening of the doorway should never be less than 32". For main interior aisles in the lab, 44" will allow most wheelchairs to corner well. An aisle or corridor where one wheelchair and one ambulatory person might pass will need to be a minimum of 48" in width.
If several different lab sites might each offer possible locations for wheelchair access, consider the location of other accessible facilities in the nearby area. These include accessible restrooms, public and campus telephones, and drinking fountains. A site that has these accessible facilities will be a greater asset to the user with mobility considerations.
When new computer labs are being designed, or existing facilities reconfigured, a walk-through with staff from the Disabilities and Computing Program and the Campus 504 and ADA Compliance Office can be of help in anticipating possible access problems and identifying potential wheelchair accessible workstation locations. Taking wheelchair access into consideration at the start is the best way to avoid more difficult changes in facility layout later.
For more information, please contact:
Disabilities and Computing Program: (310) 206-7133
504 and ADA Compliance Office: (310) 825-2242
Note: These guidelines are based on the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard and the Disabled Access Regulations in Title 24 of the California Code of Administration.