Home > Church Buyer's Guide > Building
Sanctuary Accessibility Audit
Marilyn L. Donnellan | posted 4/13/2009
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Transportation to Services
- How do you accommodate transportation needs for seniors?
Parking Lots, Curbs and Walkways
- Are parking areas for people with mobility or disability issues near the main pedestrian entrance (within 30 feet)?
- Are accessible parking areas adequately identified by signs and blue boundary lines?
- Are parking spaces at least 96 inches wide and level with surface slopes
- Is there sufficient room in the parking space for loading and unloading wheelchairs?
- Are there curb cuts and ramps with limited slopes to allow access?
- Do you provide volunteers to help people get in and out of vehicles or to help those with canes and walkers to get from the vehicles to the church?
- Are sidewalks and ramps a minimum of 36 inches wide?
- Do you have the proper number of parking spaces for people with disabilities, as required by ADA?
| Total Designated Parking Spaces |
Accessible Parking Spaces |
| 1 to 25 |
1 |
| 26 to 50 |
2 |
| 51 to 75 |
3 |
| 76 to 100 |
4 |
| 101 to 150 |
5 |
| 151 to 200 |
6 |
| 201 to 300 |
7 |
| 301 to 400 |
8 |
| 401 to 500 |
9 |
| 501 to 1000 |
2 percent of total |
| 1001 and over |
20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000 |
Entryways and Exits
- Are there steps or barriers of more than 1/2 inch into the sanctuary?
- If so, are ramps with edge protection and/or handrails provided?
- Are doorways and hallways into the sanctuary a minimum of 36 inches wide to accommodate wheelchairs?
- Are door handles at a height easily accessible to people in wheelchairs (34 to 48 inches)?
- Are door handles at a height easily accessible to people in wheelchairs (34 to 48 inches)?
- How often are doors lubricated and maintained for easy access (8.5 or less pounds of force)?
- Are entrance areas and hallways short enough to not intimidate people with mobility or breathing difficulties?
- Are signs to various areas of the church large and well-lit?
- Are accessible areas identified by large, well-lit signs?
- If gratings are located on walking surfaces, are openings 1/2 inch or less in width?
Multi-Level Sanctuaries
- If the sanctuary has multiple levels, how are wheelchairs and walkers accommodated?
Sanctuary Seating
- Does the church have seating areas for people with disabilities, with accommodations throughout the sanctuary?
- Are sections that accommodate people with disabilities or mobility issues marked with signs?
- Does the sanctuary allow for one percent ADA access?
- Is the wheelchair-accessible area flat (no slope)?
- Is there a slope to any seating areas that would create difficulty for a person who has problems standing on an inclined surface?
- Is all flooring (entry and sanctuary) slip resistant?
- Is carpeting firmly attached and with a maximum pile thickness of 1/2 inch?
- Are throw rugs or mats a potential hazard for people with canes or walkers (more than 1/2 inch in thickness)?
- Is the seating comfortable for individuals with pain and mobility issues?
Auditory and Visual
- Is real-time, closed-captioning of songs, announcements, and sermon outlines projected on a video screen?
- Is the screen positioned to avoid causing pain for people with neck problems?
- Is the font used on screen large enough and bright enough for the visually impaired?
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