Ways to Make Your Campground More Accessible for People with Disabilities
Quite often, a few simple changes can make campgrounds and R.V. parks much more accessible. Many disabled people travel without an able-bodied person and need convenient facilities. Here is a list of things you can do to help make your park more convenient to the disabled traveler. They are listed, more or less, in the order of importance.
1. A wide and level space, 20 feet wide preferable. Many disabled RVers have wheelchair lifts on the side of their rigs and need a minimum of 8 feet beyond the rig. If the space isn't level, many lifts will not work properly.
2. A hard surface at the site. The best of all worlds for a wheelchair user is a paved site. The worst, and sometimes impossible site, is one covered with deep sand or crushed rock. More and more, RV parks are making at least one site convenient.
3. Accessible hook-ups. Wheelchair users, especially, need the area around the hook-ups to be level. Too often the hook-ups are uphill, down a slope or surrounded by crushed rock.
4. Accessible office. Wheelchair users cannot get into the office if there are curbs or steps. This usually can be fixed easily by putting in a ramp.
5. Accessible toilets. Renovating bathrooms can be difficult and costly but many times a toilet can be made accessible by some easy and inexpensive changes such as moving one wall of a stall and hanging a curtain rather than a door. The first requirement, of course, is elimination of steps to the bathroom. One of our members would be happy to take a look at your facilities and make some suggestions on the easiest or least expensive ways to help alleviate any problems.
6. Accessible showers. No steps, at least a 30-inch door/opening, no curb into the shower, and fixtures reachable from a sitting position are needed. This, too, is an area that can involve considerable expense. However, sometimes the fix is relatively easy. SPECIAL NOTE: One consideration is to not redo existing bathrooms, but to build one toilet/shower room to be used by both sexes.
7. Miscellaneous. In addition, there are other conveniences you may want to consider, such as access to the clubhouse, swimming pool, laundry room, and dog walk.
Our purpose in setting out these guidelines is to help you make your campground more accessible to the growing number of disabled campers without you spending a lot of money. We're here to help in any way we can. If we can be of assistance in any, please contact us.
Following these basic guidelines will not make your campground ADA compliant; however, they are the first and most helpful steps.
To get help from The Handicapped Travel Club Contact President:
president@handicappedtravelclub.com