Municipalities should consider improving physical accessibility to their facilities for people with disabilities, according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Visits to selected public facilities including libraries, meeting halls and government offices in 20 cities, towns and a village found parking lots, building entrances, and bathrooms where accessibility could be improved to prevent potential hardships for individuals with disabilities.
“No one should face barriers when they go to vote, attend a town meeting or use public services,” said DiNapoli. “My office has identified numerous accessibility issues that can be fixed quickly with little cost. Municipalities around New York are committed to ensuring access to services and programs for the millions of New Yorkers with disabilities and these audits can help guide local officials as they continue to identify areas for improvement.”
DiNapoli’s auditors examined nearly 12,000 features at public facilities to identify possible limitations to access. Most locations were generally physically accessible, but auditors identified 1,491 features (13%) that could potentially be improved. The most common problems were found in public bathrooms with facilities that may limit access to people in wheelchairs. Auditors also found entrances and interiors that presented potential barriers to entering and moving about in public buildings.
Auditors reviewed some facilities at the following 20 municipalities:
- City of Auburn (Cayuga County)
- City of Batavia (Genesee County)
- City of Cohoes (Albany County)
- City of Long Beach (Nassau County)
- City of New Rochelle (Westchester County)
- City of Norwich (Chenango County)
- City of Rome (Oneida County)
- Town of Babylon (Suffolk County)
- Town of Big Flats (Chemung County)
- Town of Brookhaven (Suffolk County)
- Town of Chili (Monroe County)
- Town of Clifton Park (Saratoga County)
- Town of Colonie (Albany County)
- Town of Columbia (Herkimer County)
- Town of Grand Island (Erie County)
- Town of Penfield (Monroe County)
- Town of Tonawanda (Erie County)
- Town of Trenton (Oneida County)
- Town of Woodbury (Orange County)
- Village of Floral Park (Nassau County)
Recommendations were made to each municipality. Officials generally agreed with the findings, with several reporting that they had already implemented some of the suggested improvements, such as installing accessible signs, adjusting the closing speed of doors, and other low-cost improvements.