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 We
will send the 64-page page bilingual Access Guide To Santa Cruz County anywhere
in the United States for a small shipping fee of $3.00. Contact us:
Shared Adventures
PO BOX 396
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
info@sharedadventures.org
This guide is an invitation for locals and visitors with special needs to
explore the sights, sounds and flavors that Santa Cruz County has to offer. It
has been written primarily to meet the needs of wheelchair users, people with
developmental challenges, and their caregivers. We’ve included some resources
for people with visual and auditory impairments, but our focus for this guide
came from the community that Shared Adventures works with most closely. This emphasis
in no way reflects an issue of value or judgement — our goal is to be sure
that everyone is accommodated.
If you are living with an auditory or visual
impairment and would like further information and helpful resources, please contact
the Vista Center for the Blind (458-9766) or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service
Center (753-6540 or 753-6541 TTY) (see listings in Social
Services).
We at Shared Adventures are excited to offer this guide to accessibility resources
for both locals and visitors to Santa Cruz County. Part of our mission at Shared
Adventures is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, and
we see this guide as the perfect complement to our recreational and educational
programs. The guide will help bring together people of all abilities in our community.
I started Shared Adventures in 1991 with the first “Day
on the Beach” event, where individuals with disabilities could challenge
themselves in their environment through water sports. Since that first successful
event we have provided hundreds of life-enriching recreational and social opportunities
such as kayaking, surfing, outrigger canoeing, sailing, scuba diving, whale watching,
yoga, rock climbing and much more.
I came up with the idea for the guide
after visiting San Diego and seeing their accessibility guide. I felt it was helpful
for both locals and travelers alike and knew that Santa Cruz would benefit from
having its own version. Some of the great things you’ll find inside are
accessible restaurants, hotels, parks, health agencies and other service providers
which cater to those with special needs. We are proud to offer this guide to our
community and visitors.
Please also check out: www.sharedadventures.org
There are all kinds of great links from there. Happy adventuring!
Founder
and President,
Shared Adventures
Shared
Adventures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing recreational
activities to people with special needs and physical challenges.
Letter
from Emily Reilly
Mayor, Santa Cruz, CA
Let us know
about your favorite accessible resource, order a print version of the guide, or
just tell us what you think! We welcome your thoughts, tips, suggestions and contributions.We
can be reached at:
Shared Adventures
PO BOX 396
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
info@sharedadventures.org
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BASIC TRAVELER’S INFORMATION
>> Click
HERE for MAP of Santa Cruz & Directions
NOTE: Most links
will open a new browser window and take you off of this website. This website
will remain open behind the new window.
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Aptos Chamber/Visitor Center
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(831) 688-1467
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Santa Cruz
County Conference & Visitor’s Center
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(831)
425-1234
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Monterey Visitor’s
Bureau
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(831) 649-1770
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San Francisco Visitor’s Bureau
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(888) 782-9673
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CA Office
of Tourism
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(800) 862-2543
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SC County Weather
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(831) 475-3033
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SC County Sheriff
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(831) 454-2414
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Disaster Preparedness for People
with Disabilities website:
www.fema.gov
TRAVEL
TIPS
If you’re in a wheelchair and flying in to visit Santa Cruz
(or anywhere else), try these helpful tips:
- If you are flying with
a motorized wheelchair, bring documentation about the type of battery your wheelchair
uses.
- Tape easy-to-read instructions about how to handle your wheelchair
in a very visible place on your wheelchair.
- Pack a wheelchair repair
kit. For security reasons, it’s best to stow this kit in your checked luggage.
- Carry medicine, medical equipment and personal care items with you in
your carry-on luggage.
- Know Your Rights—The Air Carrier Access
Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel.
This law requires US air carriers to accommodate the needs of passengers with
disabilities. The Department of Transportation publishes “New Horizons,
Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability.” This booklet is available on-line at: http://airconsumer.dot.gov/publications/horizons.htm.
- Gather information and make needed reservations
with medical supply companies, wheelchair repair and transportation at your destination
well in advance.
ON THE GROUND
Avis and Hertz
both have hand control cars available for rent. Reserve well in advance and verify
reservations the day of the trip. Horsnyder’s Pharmacy rents wheelchairs
and The Bicycle Trip repairs them, as does Rehabilitation Specialists. See medical
supply section in this guide for these listings.
Although every effort has
been made to provide reliable, accurate information, Shared Adventures and the
Santa Cruz Access Guide staff do not assume any legal liability or responsibility
for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, products,
or persons disclosed. Although the guide covers mainly Santa Cruz County, out
of county listings are included when no local equivalent is available. Please
send any updates or corrections to:
Shared Adventures
PO BOX 396
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
info@sharedadventures.com
UPDATES
Please note:
The area code for this guide is 831 unless otherwise
shown.
Any and all monetary mentions are based on the information available
at the date of publication and may change at any time.
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All facilities
listed in this guide meet the following specifications unless otherwise noted
PARKING
- At least one designated accessible parking space in a private lot. If no private lot, at least one public accessible parking space within one block.
- Parking spaces: at least 96 inches wide and a minimum of 60 inch adjacent access aisle.
- Signage: Parking spaces must be designated as reserved for the disabled by a symbol of accessibility sign.
ENTRY
- Accessible entrance is accessed by a lift, level ground, or a ramp entrance with slope 1:12 or less.
- Door clearance is at least 32 inches wide.
- Entrance threshold less than ½ inch tall.
- Devices on accessible doors shall have a shape that is easy to grasp with one hand, and mounted no higher than 48 inches above the finished floor.
- Push buttons to be mounted no higher than 48 inches.
AISLES
- The minimum clear width for a single wheelchair passage shall be 32 inches at a point and 36 inches continuously.
- The space required for a wheelchair to make a 180-degree turn is a clear space of 60 inch diameter or a T-shaped space.
- Objects projecting from walls with their leading edges between 27 inches and 80 inches above the finished floor shall protrude no more than 4 inches into walks, halls, corridors, passageways, or aisles.
TABLES
- Seating at tables, counters, and work surfaces have a clearance at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 19 inches deep.
- The tops of tables and work surfaces shall be from 28 inches to 34 inches from the floor or ground.
RESTROOMS
- Stall door at least 32 inches, or 36 inches if side opening and swings in.
- If toilet stall approach is from latch side, clearance between door side of stall and any obstruction shall be at a minimum of 42 inches.
- Grab bars may be mounted with any desired method as long as they do not obstruct the required clear floor area.
- Urinals shall be stall-type or wall-hung with an elongated rim at a maximum of 17 inches above the floor.
- Flush controls to be hand operated or automatic, and mounted no more than 44 inches above floor.
- Faucets shall be either lever-operated, push-type, or electronically controlled mechanisms.
SEATING
- If a listening system is provided serves at individual fixed seats, then such seats shall be located within a 50 ft viewing distance of the stage or playing area and shall have a complete view of the stage or playing area.
- Designated wheelchair areas to have adequate viewing capabilities.
HANDRAILS
- Stairways shall have continuous handrails at both sides of all stairs.
- Handrails shall be provided along both sides of ramp segments.
CURB RAMPS
- Curb ramps shall be provided wherever an accessible route crosses a curb.
- If a curb ramp is located where pedestrians must walk across the ramp, or where it is not protected by handrails or guardrails, then it shall have flared sides.
HOTELS
- The shower stall shall be 36 inches by 36 inches. The shower will fit into the same space as a standard 60 inch long bathtub.
- All controls, faucets, and the shower units shall be mounted on the side wall opposite of the seat.
- The sink and surrounding counter shall be mounted at a maximum height of 34 inches above the floor, measured from the floor to the top of the counter surface, or shall be adjustable or replaceable as a unit to provide alternative heights of 28 inches, 32 inches, and 36 inches, measured from the floor to the top of the counter surface or sink rim. The total width of sink and counter area shall be at a minimum of 30 inches.
- A clear floor space 30 inches by 48 inches shall allow forward approach to the sink. 19 inches maximum of the clear floor space may extend underneath the sink. The knee space shall have a clear width of 30 inches and a clear depth of 19 inches.
- There shall be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under sinks. Hot water and drain pipes under sinks shall be insulated or otherwise covered.
FORWARD REACH
- If the clear floor space only allows forward approach to an object, the maximum high forward reach allowed shall be 48 inches. The minimum low forward reach is 15 inches.
SIDE REACH
- If the clear floor space allows parallel approach by a person in a wheelchair, the maximum high side reach allowed shall be 54 inches and the low side reach shall be no less than 9 inches above the floor.
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©
Shared Adventures, published June, 2003
Written by Crystal Birns
Edited by Crystal Birns, Daniel Birns, Steve Miller and Debra Wirkman
Compiled by Crystal Birns, Daryl Wise, Foster Andersen and Gena Bergstrom
Facilities assessed by Sarah Felumb, Gena Bergstrom, Foster Andersen, Michael
Bush and Reverend Eileen Attanasio
Design by Mike Miller, Prism Photographics,
Inc.
Production by Mark Woodhead
Website by Randie Paige
Lewis, Luckydogarts and Design
Translation by Verónica Peña
Núñez
Cover photo by Wheeler Stone
Special
thanks to The Access Guide Advisory Board: Ranee Ruble and the Santa Cruz County
Tourist and Convention Center, Mike Bradshaw and the Central Coast Center for
Independent Living, Michael Bush, Caroline Murphy, Foster Andersen, Steve Miller
and Jonathen Adler.
Thanks to New Leaf Markets for feeding our
advisory board delicious organic food, Caroline Murphy at Dollars and Sense for helping make the project happen, to Bonnie Lewkowicz of Access Northern
California for her generous offering of advice and support, to Foster and
Steve for tirelessly volunteering more hours than could be counted. And to
everyone else who contributed thoughts, photos, information, and advice —
this guide could not have been made without you.
If your organization
provides resources that might belong in this Access Guide, please
email us at info@sharedadventures.org.
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