Idaho Access Project: Making a Difference

Opening slides from four IAP presentations, clockwise from top left.
One Idaho For All: Best Practices in Local ADA Transition Planning; Count Us In! Inclusive Planning and Design for Community Health, Mobility and Safety; Access Means Business: Policies for Compliance, Community and Commerce; and Don't Miss the Boat! Expanding accessible travel experiences for all.

It's been a busy year for the Idaho Access Project! The IAP is a volunteer-driven, 501c3 nonprofit initiative to promote greater access and inclusion in all aspects of Idaho life. Founded by Dianna Willis, Jeremy Maxand, and Dana Gover in 2018, they were joined by Erik Kingston in 2020. Kingston and Gover were also original founders of Ramp Up Idaho, and the groups share some key goals:

• Increase safety, independence, mobility and access for all Idahoans
• Focus on building positive relationships and productive collaboration
• Promote awareness of the universal benefits of access to all stakeholders
• Show that #accessmeansbusiness and #accessmeansinclusion

In the past 12 months, IAP has been making change in a number of areas.

Community Access and Safety. IAP subcontracted with Vitruvian Planning on two municipal projects: Boise's 8th Street conversion to a patio and pedestrian zone between Bannock and Main, and the City of McCall's ADA Transition Plan. This fee-for-service income covers out-of-pocket and other hard costs for travel and outreach. Board members and volunteers also serve on Boise's Cross-Disability Task Force. IAP identified a safety concern in the bike ramps adjacent to roundabouts related to the lack of tactile surfaces to help pedestrians who are blind avoid walking into traffic; the local Highway District (ACHD) now plans to address the hazard.

Visitability Standards for Single-Family Housing. IAP members have long worked to raise awareness of the importance of residential development that reflects the basic features of Visitability. This includes one zero-step entrance; 32" clear doors and passageways on the main floor; and a main floor bathroom usable by someone in in a wheelchair. IAP's work highlights the many benefits of inclusive residential design and construction for individuals, taxpayers and community integrity. IAP members produced a Visitability podcast at the LINC Idaho studio, and two video interviews on the difference between planning ahead for access and modifying an existing inaccessible home (aka, 'Planning Behind"): Visitability by Design: Creating Community and Overcoming Design, Safety, and Financial Barriers

Conferences. IAP members presented at conferences for the Association of Idaho Cities the APA Idaho Chapter (both in Boise), and a keynote for the Idaho Conference on Recreation and Tourism (ICORT) in Twin Falls. They were also invited speakers for the November Boise Rotary Club, and addressed Idaho's Regional Economic Development Professionals December meeting.

Recreation. IAP Board members and volunteers worked successfully with the City of Boise and Ridge to Rivers to identify and address barriers to lower foothills trails. IAP members, family and friends planned and completed the Access Idaho Adventure tour of North Idaho to explore accessible and inclusive travel and recreation opportunities. They created a video of the trip and presented their findings to the Idaho Tourism group at Idaho Commerce, and the ICORT conference mentioned above. IAP facilitates the statewide ADA Recreation Committee via zoom, to connect with peers interested in adaptive outdoor recreation and travel.

Civic Life and Volunteerism. IAP was invited to partner for a second year with the WCA Boise on an accessible route and other features for their annual SueB 5F 10K fundraiser. The result was an Urban 5K Route that took into account safety and access for participants navigating the route with mobility- or sensory-related disabilities. This included text and audio descriptions of the route and multiple historic or cultural features along the way. IAP fielded the largest social team for the Urban 5K to support WCA and raise awareness of healthy relationships and domestic violence. Board President Dianna Willis also worked extensively with the Boise Art Museum on their efforts to create a more inclusive experience for visitors of all abilities, and IAP has had preliminary conversations with the cool folks at Treefort Fest to explore options to increase access and inclusion in programming and facilities. Stay tuned.

Fundraising. IAP participated in its first 2022 Avenues for Hope campaign running from December 12 to the 31st. results exceeded a goal of $5,000 thanks to community support and matching funds from campaign sponsors. This is in addition to receiving support from Idaho Tourism and the Disability Action Center NW to offset costs of the North Idaho event and video production. With no paid staff, all funds support costs of travel, outreach and education materials, and any accommodations needed for members and volunteers to engage in their work.

Tom McTevia Award. IAP was honored to receive the Tom McTevia Award in September for promoting accessible recreation and tourism. The award is given in memory of the former Navy Seabee and law enforcement officer who was paralyzed in an ATV accident and devoted his time to helping others living disability access the outdoors.

Press

Shoshone News-Press Making Idaho More Accessible

Idaho Capital Sun / Idaho Press Tribune New nonprofit seeks to build relationships at all levels of government for an accessible Idaho

Reaching Out Persons with Disabilities - Ten Lessons

Some great information from the ADA for small business. Getting people in the door is just one aspect of expanding markets and providing goods and services to persons living with disability.

"Did you know?

• More than 50 million Americans with disabilities - 18% of our population - are potential customers for businesses of all types across the United States.
• This group has $175 billion in discretionary spending power, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That figure is more than twice the spending power of American teenagers and almost 18 times the spending power of the American "tweens" market.
• Accessibility attracts not only people with disabilities but also their families and friends. Like others, these customers often visit stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and other businesses accompanied by family or friends. This expands the potential market exponentially!
• This market is growing fast. By the year 2030, 71.5 million Baby Boomers will be over the age of 65 and demanding products, services, and environments that address their age-related physical changes."

http://www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm

Cycling infrastructure means new pathways for all

Check out this video of cycling infrastructure, or 'infra,' in the Netherlands. A leader in bike- and pedestrian-friendly communities, Dutch culture is equally friendly in terms of universal access. Both stakeholders that use wheelchairs and cyclists find common cause in advocating for safe routes that connect neighborhoods, communities and recreational amenities.

As Idaho's statewide Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and other mobility planners explore options to expand transportation choices, keep this video in mind. To learn more, call Erik at 208.331.4706.

Who else benefits from Dutch cycling infrastructure?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSGx3HSjKDo

(Photo: Chuck Humel)

Some ingenious ways to combine bike and wheelchair commuting with friends and family:

(Photo: tmannetje.nl)

See also: http://www.frankmobility.com/duetfeat.php

When Vancouver Leads, Access Follows

• Vancouver to make accessibility for seniors, disabled a priority in new house construction: City considers new standards for single-family, townhouse homes
• Vancouver’s ban on the humble doorknob likely to be a trendsetter

Ideas that are long overdue. A similar single-family residential ordinance was adopted officially in Pima County, AZ years ago and has withstood court challenges. Lever hardware is rapidly becoming the norm (no knobs in my house!), and we can expect hardware makers to get more creative and artful as lever use expands.

As I've often said, we are all seniors in training (if we're lucky), and aging-in-place is good for us, our families and for the public treasury. Habitat for Humanity has said it will build all homes to 'visitability standards' (at least one zero-step entry and accessible route to a sleeping area and main floor bathroom). Whether through age, illness or injury, we will all face mobility restrictions at point in our lives. And there's no place like home.

Idaho Loses Long-Time Advocate

Idaho lost a tremendous disability rights advocate and expert, and many of us lost a friend and mentor this weekend. Bobby Ball had a long history working to preserve and expand opportunities for persons living with disabilities through technical assistance and the legislative process. As the Director of the ADA Task Force, Bobby brought together partners from many background. Her wonderful smile and persuasive ability made it tough to say no, whether she was asking for volunteer time or resources to make Idaho more accessible and welcoming.

Thank you, Bobby, for all your hard work, dedication, great sense of humor, and the inspiration you have been to so many of us. We will miss you.

To learn more about Bobby, see this brief feature story when she was recognized as one of Idaho's 'Women Making History.'

http://womenscenter.boisestate.edu/women/women-making-history/2009-honorees/bobby-ball/

This brief 10-second clip was captured during the ADA celebration at the Idaho Statehouse in 2010

http://youtu.be/ukDiISj8qHo

Access Means Business

Photo credit: Disability Action Center NW

Current demographics show that not only are Baby Boomers an economic force, they also indicate that one in ten Idahoans (read: potential customers and tourists) lives with some type of mobility impairment. Nearly 22,000 Idahoans living with a disability earn more than $50,000/yr. This means communities with accessible and inclusive housing, retail, public and recreational spaces will be the winners moving forward.

Wheelchair users are mobile, and they're looking for travel and adventure opportunities like anyone else. It pays to make them feel welcome.

More online resources are available every day to these travelers, whether aimed at historic tourism, zip-line courses, skiing and boating...not to mention hunting and fishing. Idaho should be a draw to these visitors (we have the best of all these, right?), but only if we begin to think about access in our planning process. If you aren't convinced that wheelchair users are pushing the envelope, check out this video.

One of the best sites to illustrate access-related travel reviews is www.wheelchairtraveling.com. The site provides travel tips on air and ground transportation, lodging and inclusive tour options or travel packages. An example of one such review can be found here; a wheelchair POV video of the trip is here. Big props to WCT's Creatrix Ashley Lyn Olson for her amazing documentary skills. What would Ashley have to say about your town?

Our group would love to talk with local businesses, planners, chambers and leadership to assess the visitor-readiness of your streets and spaces, and help you gain some traction towards increased economic activity and compliance with existing laws. Visit us on Facebook or email info@rampupidaho.org to let us know how we can help.

Photo credit: www.wheelchairtraveling.com