Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field

Feature 4 - Routes to the Meeting Space

Accessible interior routes to the meeting space

The interior accessible route connects the accessible entrance with the meeting space. Typically made up of hallways, corridors, and interior rooms and spaces, the accessible route is essential for people who have difficulty walking or who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

The accessible route to the meeting space must have the same characteristics as the accessible route to the building entrance. ADA Standards for Accessible Design | Temporary Barrier Removal Suggestions for Accessible Features

It is important to note that people who are blind or have low vision may use all routes -- not only the accessible ones -- that lead to the meeting space. Therefore, objects that do not provide sufficient head clearance or that are mounted too high and protrude into a route can become hazards because they cannot be detected by people who use white canes. (See Routes to the Building Entrance for a detailed description.) Items that can become hazards include wall-mounted fire extinguishers, display cases, and sconces, as well as open staircases, overhead signs and banners, and the curved sides of arched doorways.