For over a decade, Cole has been conducting ADA Self-Evaluations and Transition Plans for agencies of all sizes. Our team is highly experienced, with some of the best experts in the industry leading ADA evaluations and planning efforts nationwide.
Throughout the years, we’ve noticed that many agencies ask similar questions, with one of the most common inquiries being whether they can rely on internal staff to complete their ADA Self-Evaluations.
In our experience, depending solely on internal staff or summer interns for this task presents significant challenges for public agencies. ADA Transition Planning is a specialized professional service for a reason and requires a level of expertise that should not be underestimated.
Why hire an ADA-Self Evaluation and Transition planning expert?
By hiring ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Planning experts, public agencies take an important step toward ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other relevant legal mandates. These professionals bring specialized knowledge and experience in identifying barriers to accessibility within facilities, programs, and services. By proactively addressing these issues, agencies can avoid potential legal challenges and costly lawsuits. More importantly, they create inclusive environments where all individuals, including those with disabilities, can access public spaces and services.
When agencies opt not to use specialized consultants for ADA Self-Evaluations, they often encounter several significant problems that can hinder the accuracy and effectiveness of their assessments. Significant problems these agencies run into are: lack of specialized knowledge and expertise in accessibility standards, time constraints and dedication of internal staff, inconsistency and quality of data collected, and the lack of necessary resources, equipment, technology, and proper tracking tools that ensure accuracy.
Let’s explore these challenges further and assess the advantages of engaging a specialized accessibility firm for ADA Assessment.
- CHALLENGE – Limited Expertise:
One of the most common issues is the lack of specialized knowledge and expertise. Internal staff and summer interns, while valuable in other roles, may not possess the in-depth understanding of ADA compliance requirements and accessibility standards necessary for a thorough evaluation. The phrase “you don’t know what you don’t know” applies here; without proper training, staff may overlook critical aspects of accessibility or make incorrect assumptions. This can lead to assessments that are either incomplete or inaccurate, putting the organization at risk of non-compliance with legal requirements. In addition to the limitations in expertise, agencies should also consider the level of commitment that existing staff or summer interns can provide to the project.
Engaging an expert, such as our dedicated team members at Cole, offers agencies peace of mind, knowing that the staff responsible for data collection are highly trained and capable of completing the project more efficiently and accurately than internal personnel or summer interns. Whether the agency takes a phased approach or decides to evaluate the entire agency at once, utilizing professional services ensures more consistent and reliable data throughout the process.
- CHALLENGE – Time Constraints:
Time constraints further exacerbate the problem. Internal staff members typically have other job responsibilities and cannot dedicate the necessary time to conduct detailed ADA Self-Evaluations. Even if they are willing, the demands of their regular duties often take precedence, leaving little room for the careful, time-intensive work that ADA compliance assessments require. Summer interns, while helpful for short-term projects, are available for a limited duration. Their temporary status can pose additional challenges when it comes to following up on questions or revisiting outstanding issues. If something is missed or needs further clarification, it can be difficult to address after the intern’s tenure ends, resulting in incomplete evaluations. This often leads to gaps in the evaluation process, resulting in incomplete or inconsistent findings.
Partnering with a specialized firm offers a solution to these challenges. For example, Cole works closely with each client to establish a designated schedule that aligns with the agency’s needs and timelines, ensuring that data collection and evaluations remain a priority throughout the process. This level of commitment ensures that no detail is overlooked, and that the entire evaluation is completed efficiently and accurately, with follow-up and continuity throughout. In contrast to the limitations faced by internal staff or interns, engaging a specialized firm provides agencies with confidence in the quality, consistency, and completeness of their ADA Self-Evaluations.
- CHALLENGE – Inconsistent Quality:
Another challenge is the inconsistent quality of work. ADA Self-Evaluations require not only specialized knowledge but also a consistent approach across various areas of assessment. The variation in skill levels and experience among internal staff and interns can lead to discrepancies in the evaluation process. Different individuals may interpret ADA requirements in varying ways, causing inconsistencies in findings and recommendations. This lack of uniformity can undermine the credibility of the assessment, leaving the agency with a sense of uncertainty about the data’s accuracy and leaving the agency with greater liability if non-compliant features are missed or assessed as compliant. As a result, there may be a loss of confidence in the evaluation process, and the organization could face difficulty in developing a reliable ADA Transition Plan.
Hiring an expert can effectively address the issue of inconsistent quality in ADA Self-Evaluations. Specialized consultants bring a deep understanding of ADA requirements, ensuring a standardized and uniform approach to the evaluation process across all areas. Unlike internal staff or interns, whose varying skill levels and experience can lead to discrepancies in findings, experts apply consistent methodologies backed by extensive training and experience. This eliminates the risk of differing interpretations of ADA standards, ensuring that the data collected is reliable, accurate, and aligned with regulatory requirements.
Cole has been providing Self-Evaluation services for years, using proven evaluation frameworks that leave little room for error, creating consistency in both the evaluation process and the final recommendations. Quality control is an important aspect of field data collection. Working with Cole enhances the credibility of the assessment, giving agencies confidence in the accuracy of the findings. Because of this, organizations can more easily develop a reliable ADA Transition Plan, knowing that the data they are basing their decisions on is thorough and dependable.
- CHALLENGE – Resource Limitations:
Resource limitations are also a common issue when agencies try to handle ADA evaluations internally. Many public agencies may lack the necessary equipment, technology, and tracking tools to conduct an efficient and accurate assessment. ADA Self-Evaluations require specific resources, such as specialized software for tracking compliance and databases for storing data. Without these tools, it can be difficult to organize the information and ensure that the findings are actionable. Moreover, the data collected during the self-evaluation must be systematically stored and managed to create an effective ADA Transition Plan. Without proper infrastructure, this process can become disorganized, leading to further inefficiencies and potential gaps in compliance.
The resources that specialized accessibility firms bring to the table offer a significant advantage when it comes to data collection for ADA Self-Evaluations. For instance, Cole developed in-house technology for sidewalk inventory collection and an intuitive data collector application for ADA Self-Evaluation projects.
For the sidewalk inventory collection, Cole uses a unique but proven proprietary technology to document barriers and prioritize improvements where they are most needed. The technology was originally developed through a pilot program with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The technology is a “Best Practice” approach listed by the Texas Transportation Institute, and in ADA Compliance at Transportation Agencies: A Review of Practices (NCHRP 20-07 Task 249), a National Cooperative Highway Research Program study, also cited by FHWA and NTRB. The ULIP-ADA (Ultra-Light Inertial Profiler) allows for a cost-effective means to measure sidewalk cross slope, running slope (grade), gaps, and vertical displacement. Additionally, we record movable and fixed obstructions, driveways, and any unique features our clients want to capture. All data is easily integrated daily into the GIS mapping. The device’s lasers, accelerometers, and gyroscope are designed to measure complete features of the sidewalk surface at a rate of 10,000 records per second. This system provides continuous sidewalk data and allows a city to report and map degrees of non-compliant sidewalk and compliant sidewalk.
Additionally, Cole uses intuitive data collector applications to collect remaining PROW facilities, such as curb ramps, APS signals, and on-street accessible parking. Cole’s data collector application, built based on ADA Standards and Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), are pre-programmed into handheld computer tablets. Data collection, data validation, and linking to location and digital photo files will happen automatically as the Field Data Specialists enter data and move from point to point. The post-processed data is compiled into Inventory & Compliance Reports that list the non-compliant component for every pedestrian facility, including the applicable ADA Standards & PROWAG regulations and a recommended remediation solution and cost estimates.
Public agencies often lack the essential equipment, technology, and tracking tools required to conduct efficient and accurate ADA assessments. In contrast, Cole utilizes cutting-edge technology that is among the most reliable in the industry for conducting evaluations. By leveraging advanced tools, Cole ensures that data collection is thorough, precise, and organized, providing agencies with accurate insights that are essential for developing effective ADA Transition Plans.
Conducting ADA Self-Evaluations, the Right Way
In summary, the decision to forgo specialized consultants in ADA Self-Evaluations often results in several challenges for agencies. From limited expertise and time constraints to inconsistent quality and resource limitations, these problems can significantly impact the thoroughness and accuracy of the evaluations.
In the long run, relying on internal staff or summer interns without the necessary training and resources can expose the organization to risks of non-compliance, legal penalties, and the inability to fully implement an effective ADA Transition Plan. It is imperative to conduct ADA Self-Evaluation the right way so agencies can maintain their data in the long run. Collaboration with qualified experts can ensure comprehensive and accurate evaluations, enhance compliance with ADA regulations, and demonstrate a proactive commitment to accessibility and inclusion within the community.
At Cole, our specialized consultants are pleased to work in a variety of consulting capacities with clients when it comes to ADA Self-Evaluations. Learn more about our ADA Transition Planning Services and ADA technology here.