ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan
Salt Lake City Corporation strives to assure that City services and programs are accessible. A majority of the City’s facilities have been designed, built, and renovated to comply with federal and state accessibility code requirements. However, since some facilities may have barriers that could limit full accessibility, the City has prepared an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan for public buildings, parks, and public rights-of-way. In addition, the project included an ADA Self-Evaluation of policies, programs, procedures, and communications.
The resulting Plan identifies barriers to accessibility, establishes an approach for removing ADA barriers, identifies the person responsible for title II compliance, and involves people with disabilities in the preparation of the Plan. The Plan provides a strategic approach and tools for continued access improvements as the City implements its ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan in the coming years.
The ADA Transition Plan will also establish precedence for future projects to ensure that the City buildings and facilities are equally accessible to all. Please click here to view the Salt Lake City ADA Transition Plan.
History of ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan
Self-Evaluation and Transition Plans were first mandated through the Rehabilitation Act and were expanded under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The ADA self-evaluation was first required in 1993. It is recommended that cities update their self-evaluation periodically as ADA standards and the physical and digital worlds evolve.
What is a Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan?
The self-evaluation is a full assessment of all Salt Lake City programs, activities, and services to identify any barriers to participation for people with disabilities. This process also assesses City-owned buildings and parks.
Once the self-evaluation is complete, a transition plan is created. This is a plan that identifies the architectural barriers that limit access to SLC programs and activities. It plans for structural changes and works with the City’s departments to modify policies and procedures.
Salt Lake City’s ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Project
This ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan project will provide a framework for the continuous improvements the City is taking to ensure its programs and facilities are accessible for all residents and visitors.
This plan will outline the strategy for the City to progress toward compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), identifying physical barriers for persons with disabilities, and a schedule to remove those barriers over time to create a city for everyone. This project is being completed in phases outlined below.
Project Tasks and Schedule
The plan’s development includes the following phases:
Phase 1: COMPLETED
Project Initiation, Management, and On-Going Communication
The City’s ADA Coordinator initiated the project in June 2022. The ADA Coordinator gathered a group of ADA departmental liaisons to provide insights throughout the project. The liaisons meet with the ADA Coordinator periodically as well as independently. The ADA departmental liaison group meets throughout project phases for insight and updates.
Phase 2: COMPLETED
Policy and Program Evaluation (Summer 2022-Winter 2023)
During the project’s policy and program evaluation phase, a comprehensive review of City policies, services, and practices was conducted to ensure that they are nondiscriminatory to people with disabilities. The evaluation involved the following tasks:
- Reviewed City policy documents, programs, and services;
- Administered questionnaires regarding City policies and procedures;
- Identified modifications to City programs, services, practices; and met with the ADA departmental liaisons and key department staff to identify issues and review recommendations for modifications to City policies, services, and practices.
Phase 3: COMPLETED
Parks Evaluations (Summer/Fall 2023)
The park evaluations involve the assessment and inventory of ADA barriers within all City-owned parks. The parks evaluation involved the following tasks:
- Conducting ADA evaluations assessing:
- Parking (if applicable)
- Accessible routes to and through the park
- Play areas
- Restrooms
- Water fountains
- Access to amenities including athletic fields and sport courts
- Preparing barrier reports;
- Identifying ADA barrier removal actions; and
- Involving the public in identifying issues and barrier removal priorities.
Public Engagement Workshop
We hosted two workshops to learn about what you feel is important for improving access in our parks. Thos workshops were:
- August 24th from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Youth City at Liberty Park
- September 21st from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at Glendale Library
- November 8th from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at Fire Station #3
Phase 4: COMPLETED
Facility Evaluations (Fall-Winter 2023)
The facility evaluations involve the assessment and inventory of ADA barriers within the City’s facilities where the public accesses City programs and services. The evaluation involved the following tasks:
- Conducting ADA facility evaluations and preparing barrier reports;
- Identifying ADA barrier removal actions; and
- Involving the ADA Advisory Group in identifying issues and drafting barrier removal priorities.
Phase 5: CURRENT PHASE
Present the ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (Summer 2024)
The plan is now available for public review. Click here to view the Salt Lake City ADA Transition Plan.
If you would like to provide comments you can email the ADA Coordinator, Ashley Lichtle, at ADA@slc.gov.