<div dir="ltr">Thank-you for this, Alan.<br><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 11:34:23 -0500<br>
From: Alan Fay <<a href="mailto:emptyset@freesideatlanta.org" target="_blank">emptyset@freesideatlanta.org</a>><br>
To: Hackerspaces General Discussion List<br>
<<a href="mailto:discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org" target="_blank">discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [hackerspaces] Inquiry: Hackerspaces Accomodating Special<br>
Needs Hackers & Hacker Experiences - How Do You Guys Fare?<br>
Message-ID:<br>
<<a href="mailto:CAFC4BBwYg1ozfkGLVGKfn77LA_EtQMBYUBYsWWAmUspTwRiCbg@mail.gmail.com" target="_blank">CAFC4BBwYg1ozfkGLVGKfn77LA_EtQMBYUBYsWWAmUspTwRiCbg@mail.gmail.com</a>><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<br>
<br>
Ethan,<br>
<br>
Last year, Freeside repurposed a zero-turn lawnmower into an off-road<br>
wheelchair for a friend with mobility issues, to provide her with autonomy<br>
at a regional Burning Man event in north Georgia:<br>
<a href="http://blog.freesideatlanta.org/2013/03/super-cheap-and-effective-off-road.html" target="_blank">http://blog.freesideatlanta.org/2013/03/super-cheap-and-effective-off-road.html</a><br>
<br>
Normally, Robin had to rely on the volunteer staff with golf carts to get<br>
around, but this worked really well, and it even took some of the 30-degree<br>
inclines like it was no big deal. Freeside actively supports member and<br>
community projects related to mobility or accessibility issues; it's also<br>
something I personally feel passionate about.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Cool! Do you have detailed technical documentation on how you built the zero-turn wheelchair?</div><div><br></div><div>I have been learning American Sign Language off and on and I have wondered about a project to develop a video recognition program that can read the gestures of sign and translate them into words. It has been demonstrated with the XBOX Kinect (<a href="http://www.eweek.com/pc-hardware/xboxs-kinect-senses-sign-language.html">http://www.eweek.com/pc-hardware/xboxs-kinect-senses-sign-language.html</a>). With this demonstration and open-source software to repurpose the Kinect, this project seems closer to my reach.</div>
<div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
Our space is part of a larger complex that has grandfathered exceptions to<br>
the ADA. The ADA also has some clear exceptions for areas with workshop<br>
and industrial equipment.<br>
<br>
That said, we make every effort to ensure our space is pretty accessible,<br>
though we were unable to install a *compliant *ramp to our front door (no<br>
ramp is required to enter through the back of our space). The reason for<br>
that is that ADA requires a 12:1 rise, and this type of ramp would impede<br>
the flow of traffic to the other units in the complex.<br>
<br>
I know of a couple of spaces in Atlanta that share the same experience; the<br>
best thing is to be aware of the issue and have a plan to address questions<br>
and concerns. It's also simple things that make a difference - keeping a<br>
clear 3-4 foot walkthrough, making sure members don't leave boxes or<br>
materials blocking a path through, etc.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Sounds like a good start.</div><div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
I'm not an expert in the fine details of the law, but I would recommend<br>
getting an expert review of your facility before *claiming* ADA compliance.<br>
Most hackerspaces located in newer pre-built-out facilities can, for the<br>
most part, assume that they are compliant, unless they've done some wacky<br>
build-outs. It's probably a good idea to engage your landlord in that<br>
conversation - especially if your space is regularly open to the public.<br>
<br>
It's important if you're located in an older facility to read the ADA and<br>
also read the grandfathered exceptions (if they exist or apply to your<br>
facility). Be prepared to answer questions; ignorance of the ADA is not<br>
acceptable. Definitely read through the ADA, if you haven't already.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>A curiosity, for an organization to be registered as a 501c3 and/or for insurance purposes, is ADA compliance a must? Did Freeside or other hackerspace meet this as a requirement?</div>
<div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
Thanks,<br>
Alan<br>
Director/Treasurer, Freeside Atlanta<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Thanks, Alan!</div><div><br></div><div> - spacefelix/Ethan Chew, Mojave Makers (<a href="http://www.mojavemakers.org">www.mojavemakers.org</a>)</div>
<div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 2:11 AM, Ethan Chew <<a href="mailto:spacefelix@gmail.com" target="_blank">spacefelix@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> Hello,<br>
><br>
> In the hackerspace and hacker experience, how have you guys<br>
> accomodated hackers with special needs (e.g. deaf, blind, limited mobility,<br>
> mental, multiple languages, etc.)?<br>
> Likewise, for hackers who have special needs, how has your experience<br>
> been and how have you adapted to your communities?<br>
><br>
> I am curious to know as I have seen examples of such hackerspaces;<br>
> some in ethnically diverse communities operate with multiple languages;<br>
> staff and board alike are multilingual. Some hackerspaces in the US I've<br>
> seen have built ramps or arranged doors and passageways accordingly to meet<br>
> ADA (American Disability Act) standards to accommodate wheelchairs.<br>
><br>
> As for special needs hackers, how has the community been for you;<br>
> how are we doing as a whole and what should we continue to do/improve upon?<br>
><br>
> As a last question, are there any examples of projects out there<br>
> that are geared towards meeting special needs; e.g. visual-only/tactile or<br>
> sound-only translators, mobility devices, etc?<br>
><br>
> V/r Ethan/spacefelix<br>
><br>
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><br>
><br>
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