Honolulu Community College
Temporary Access Plan for Building 7
Approved on October 30, 2001 by the
Committee On Disability Access - Honolulu (CODA-H)

FEDERAL MANDATES ON ACCESS

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance. In addition, the Office of Civil Rights requires that institutions have a written plan in place that notifies interested persons concerning the policy and practice of relocating meetings, programs, and activities to accessible locations.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE POLICY

The Policy and Procedural Guidelines for Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability for Students Attending the University of Hawaii Community College System states:

All programs and facilities must be made available to disabled individuals in the most integrated setting appropriate, if structural barriers are present, the following accommodations can be provided:

  1. Relocate a particular course by moving the class to another location which is accessible. (Be aware that moving the course could have an impact on another disabled student.)
  2. Provide an alternative route to the classroom.
  3. Provide student with an alternative course that would fit his or her program requirement.
  4. Modify equipment/facility when appropriate. All modifications must comply with ADA Accessibility Guidelines.
  5. Provide Priority Registration as a way to avoid situations where there are limited choices of course locations. This process will limit the impact of classes being moved and allow adequate time for other accommodations to be made (UHCC, 10).

THE GOAL OF THE TEMPORARY ACCESS PLAN

Honolulu Community College is committed to providing equal opportunity to persons with disabilities by ensuring safe access to its classes and programs. The Temporary Access Plan is a part of HCC's ongoing efforts to adhere to federal laws and Office of Civil Rights (OCR) guidelines for disability access in post-secondary institutions. Specifically, the plan lists the procedures for relocating classrooms rendered inaccessible due to a breakdown of the freight elevator in Building 7. This temporary plan will be implemented until an evaluation and an effective long-range plan to correct access problems in Building 7 can be put into place.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

The upper levels of Building 7 are accessed through three public elevators in an exterior tower on the south side of the building. Rather than going to every floor, these elevators stop at floors 3 ½ and 5 ½. Upon exiting the elevator, a person must enter the fire exit, walk up or down a half flight of stairs, and open a door to enter the desired floor.

Floor to floor elevator access is available only through a freight elevator with ground floor access in the Library. A key is required to use this freight elevator. Faculty, staff, and students who provide the college with written documentation validating an appropriate disability are issued an elevator key. Visitors needing disability access must ask a faculty or staff member with a key to call the elevator for them.

When the Library is closed, disability access to the building must be coordinated with Campus Security and the evening staff in the Apprenticeship Program to unlock the Library doors and escort the person needing disability access as he or she enters or exits the building.

Although the freight elevator is well maintained, it is old and has been subject to breakdowns every semester. It is difficult to predict when and for how long elevator service may be disrupted. In the past few years, the longest disruption lasted 4 days. Whenever a disruption in service has occurred, every effort has been made to relocate classes for which a student with a mobility impairment needs access. There have been times when students with disabilities have been unable to access their classes due to a breakdown of the elevator. At other times, students have been stranded on the upper floors and unable to exit the building safely. Wheelchair users have been carried up or down a half flight of stairs in order to access the public elevators and exit the building. In one case, a student who uses a cane sustained injuries when he fell while trying to use the stairs to get to and from his classes in Building 7 when the freight elevator was inoperational.

STEPS TO IMPROVING ACCESS

Each semester, Student ACCESS will compile a listing of students who have identified themselves as being unable to access classes/areas and those unable to exit or evacuate Building 7 safely when the freight elevator is out of service. This Building Evacuation list will incorporate all affected students class schedules and will be organized by day and time of when classes meet. Ongoing evening and weekend classes will be automatically relocated out of Building 7 due to lack of staffing available to facilitate move. Instructors for weekday classes (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) will be notified when an identified student with a mobility problem enrolls in one of their classes held in Building 7. Unlike what other Colleges do in automatically reassigning classes to an accessible building, at this time, HCC will provide instructors of weekday (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) classes the opportunity to select one of two options*:

  1. Request for a new classroom assignment in an accessible building for the duration of the semester.
  2. Remain in the assigned classroom and move upon notification that elevator service is disrupted.

If option 2 is selected, an attempt will be made to relocate classes whenever the elevator will be out of service for more than a reasonable amount of time. The responsibility for securing a new accessible classroom location (not in Building 7 and preferably on the ground level for safety reasons) rests with the Division and should be worked out internally within the Division cache of rooms. The Division is responsible for informing instructors, students, the Studnet ACCESS, and other appropriate parties of the new room changes.

* - Note: This is a temporary procedure for weekday classes. A more permanent policy will require automatic reassignment of classes to accessible locations.

CLASS RELOCATION DURING WEEKDAYS, EVENINGS, AND WEEKENDS

Upon breakdown of freight elevator in Building 7 the following steps will be followed:

    Mondays through Fridays 7:30 am to 4:30 pm

      Library (Disseminate information to arriving elevator users)

      1. Call Business Office at x142 to report breakdown.
      2. Call Wayne Sunahara at x 272 and Libby Jakubowski at x392.
      3. Wait for further information/ instructions. Update those arriving to use the elevator.

    Business Office (Information Center and Facilities Management)

      Upon receiving call of breakdown:
      1. Call Security to assess problem in order to provide detailed report to elevator company.
      2. Call elevator company and request that status report be called in to 845-9142, if possible.
      3. Use student list furnished by Student ACCESS, begin looking for alternative classroom location.
      4. If the elevator will be out for two hours, reasonable accommodations will be made to relocated classes.
      5. Call Security and request confirmation of classroom availability. After room confirmation received, call and inform instructor of the newly assigned classroom location and reason (elevator breakdown). If instructor is not available after exhausting all means of contact, notify the Department Liaison and Division Chair.
      6. Once confirmation has been made with instructors regarding new room assignments, call Library at 845-9199 and e-mail room assignments to:
          7. Wayne Sunahara (waynes@hcc.hawaii.edu)
          Libby Jakubowski (libby@hcc.hawaii.edu)
          Ken Kato (kato@hcc.hawaii.edu)

      Security (Mobile Assistance)

      1. Check and confirm classroom availability for Business Office.
      2. Assist with posting signs and relocating classes.
      3. Update and remove signs daily if needed.

      Student ACCESS, Wayne Sunahara, Disability Service Provider (Liaison between College and Student)

      1. Check and confirm student schedules, if needed for Business Office..
      2. When a class cannot be relocated, assist Wayne with getting tape recorders and notes to instructors explaining elevator breakdown and need for cooperation.
      3. Return to office and be available to provide additional assistance as needed (posting signs, etc.).
      4. If classes will be relocated, work with College Skills Center in contacting students, explaining situation, giving new building and room numbers. Students should be encouraged to make contact with their instructors as soon as possible.

      Student ACCESS, Libby Jakubowski, Educational Specialist (Liaison between College and Student)

      1. When classes cannot be relocated, send notetakers to classes that do not already have notetakers assigned.
      2. Deliver tape recorders and notes to instructors explaining elevator breakdown and need for cooperation. Advise instructors to return tape recorders to Student ACCESS after class is over.
      3. Return to office and be available to provide additional assistance as needed (posting signs, etc.).
      4. If classes will be relocated, student contact students and explain situation, giving new building and room numbers. Students should be encouraged to make contact with their instructors as

      Instructors with classes held in Building 7

      1. Make announcement at the beginning of the semester and include in the syllabus that class may be relocated if needed to provide access to all students. Check for flyers regarding room changes if the class needs to relocate temporarily.
      2. Until an "all clear is given" that elevator is fully operational, instructor should check with the Business Office daily regarding elevator and classroom status.
      3. Announce to class that they should check for flyers posted near elevators for relocation information.
      4. Call students that could not get to class due to elevator breakdown and make sure that student was able to access notes and understand information.
      5. Return cassette tape recorders to the Student ACCESS in Building 7, Rm. 319 after class.

      Available Staff (clerks, secretaries, student workers from various areas)

        1. Assist with posting of signs. Use posting sheet listing to determine where signs are to be posted.
        2. Assist in directing students to new classes.

      Evenings & Weekends

        All ongoing evening and weekend classes (credit/non-credit) in Building 7 with an identified person with a mobility problem must be relocated. The responsibility for securing a new accessible classroom location (not in Building 7 and preferably on the ground level for safety reasons) rests with the Division.

        Once the student registers for classes, the Division responsible for the class will be notified. The Division will internally make adjustments and inform the Student ACCESS of the new accessible classroom location. If after considering all viable options the Division is unable to designate a new accessible classroom location, then the Dean of Academic Affairs must be notified promptly to determine further options. If the Division does not respond appropriately, then the student may lodge an Office of Civil Rights complaint against the Division. The CSC/Student ACCESS staff will handle all College Skills Center (CSC) testing activities internally.

        The following procedure is to be used for all other short-term activities such as meetings, workshops, or non-credit courses if the Building 7 freight elevator is breaks down or is out of service.

        Library (Disseminate information to arriving freight elevator users)

        1. Call Security at x273 to report breakdown.
        2. Wait for further information/instructions. Update those arriving to use the elevator.

        Security (Facilities Management)

        1. Upon receiving call for breakdown:
          Assess problem in order to provide detailed report to elevator company. Call elevator company and request status report to be called back to 284-1270, if possible.
        2. If the elevator will be out of service and affect any meetings or activities, reasonable accommodations will be made to relocate those affected activities.
        3. Upon request, will find and confirm availability of classroom(s) to relocate to. After room confirmed to be available, will inform the Instructor of the newly assigned classroom location.
        4. Post signs relocating class(es) at public elevators, in Building 7 classroom, and outside door of new classroom noting Class, Instructor and time of class, and new room number.
        5. Update and remove signs daily if needed.

        Persons conducting evening and weekend activities in Building 7* (all ongoing evening and weekend classes with identified persons with mobility problems will be automatically relocated)

        1. Inform Business Office immediately to relocate classroom if advance notice is given that a person with a mobility problem will participate in an activity.
        2. If no advance notice is given, a class or activity must be relocated to accommodate the person with a mobility problem. Contact Security to request relocation to an accessible classroom at x 273, x 247, or cellular phone 284-1270. A class or activity may be rescheduled or canceled only if there is no other accessible or comparable specially equipped room to meet class requirements.
        3. If activity meets more than one day, make announcement at the first meeting or in any written syllabus or handout that classroom may be relocated, if needed, to provide access to all students. Participants should check for flyers regarding room changes if the class needs to relocate temporarily.
        4. If activity relocated to an accessible location, please remind participants that they should check for flyers posted near Building 7 public elevators for relocation information.
        5. Check with Security or Business Office (x142 weekdays) prior to next meeting regarding elevator and classroom status.
        6. For activities such as live tele-conference or HITS televised broadcasts that are unable in relocate to another location, copies of notes/transcripts must be made available to persons with mobility problems that are unable to get to meeting room. If permission was granted to videotape broadcast, a copy of videotape should be provided for participant. If videotaping is not possible, an audio tape recording should be made of the broadcast to use bye note taker.
        7. If advance notice is given, arrangements can be made to borrow a cassette tape recorder through Student ACCESS (x392).

        Available Staff (clerks, secretaries, student workers from various areas), if any

        1. Assist with posting of signs. Use posting sheet listing to determine where signs are to be posted.
        2. Assist in directing students to new classes.

    This Temporary Access Plan will be evaluated on a semesterly basis. It may become necessary to institute a contingency plan whereby rooms will be kept on reserve for class relocation purposes.

    EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

      A. Fire, Bomb Threat, Earthquake, or other emergency requiring evacuation:
      In the event of an emergency, please follow these procedures of the HCC Health and Safety Committee's High Rise Building Evacuation of Persons with Mobility Problems:

        Designate two persons (and alternates) to be responsible for ensuring an expedient and safe evacuation of persons with mobility problems. The Honolulu Fire Department will be responsible for evacuating persons in an emergency. We have been advised that we should not carry any person down the fire escape. The designated helpers should follow these guidelines:

        1. Both helpers should assist the person requiring mobility assistance to the nearest fire escape.
        2. Both helpers should place the person in a safe area on the landing inside the fire escape. Make certain that he or she is not obstructing evacuating traffic. The fire door should be kept closed for safety.
        3. Helper 1 should stay with the person requiring assistance while Helper 2 seeks official assistance. Prior to Helper 2 leaving, both helpers should agree specifically to meet later at a designated evacuation area. Helper 2 should leave to inform Fire Department officials that a person requiring evacuation is waiting in the Ewa, Mauka, Makai or Diamond Head fire escape, in Building ___ (number), on the ____ floor landing. Fire officials are responsible for transporting the person needing assistance.
        4. After successful evacuation of the building, both helpers should meet at the mutually agreed upon location in the designated evacuation area. This is to make certain that both Helper 1 and Helper 2 and person needing assistance have safely evacuated the building.

        B. Medical emergency:

        1. Call 911 and request assistance from Ambulance.
        2. Call Nurse at 284-1140 and Security at 284-1270 for assistance.
        3. Have someone stay with person needing assistance.
        4. Have someone direct the emergency crew to the area.

          5. Note:
            The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) may be called upon in special cases where there may be a medical reason why the person needs to leave the building (anxiety attack, claustrophobia, etc.). However, they will not carry the person out of the building unless it is medically necessary. In cases when a person may be trapped in an elevator, they will usually elect to wait till electrical power is restored unless there is medical reason for them to be aggressive and get the person out of the elevator or building.

    NON-EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

    The College is committed in seeking assistance from outside professionals who are trained in safely transporting persons with mobility problems. Handi-cabs of the Pacific has been approached to consider providing assistance to us in non-emergency situations. While we await their response to our formal request, we may call and check whether they would be able to assist us. Decisions on whether they can provide assistance will be made on a case-to-case basis depending on their scheduled appointments, staffing, driver availability, and number of drivers required to provide assistance, etc. These non-emergency procedures should be followed:

    1. Do not carry any person out of anything

    2. Elevator company will be consulted regarding the length of time it will take to repair and return the accessible elevator to full service. If the elevator will not be operational within a reasonable period of time, a call will be made by either Security or the Business Office to obtain approval (see chart below) to contact vendor (Handi-cabs of the Pacific for now) to send personnel trained to provide assistance to move person(s) with mobility problems out of the building.

      3. a. Approval to call vendor will be sought from the appropriate person depending on day and time (see chart):

      APPROVAL FOR NON-EMERGENCY EVACUATION
      DAY
      CONTACT
      		PHONE
      Weekday
      Director of Administrative Services,
      Ken Kato
      		 845-9123
      294-9123(cell)
      Evenings
      M, T, W, Th
      Till 6 pm
      Night Duty Dean
      (See semester Night Duty Schedule)
      		 varies
      After 6 pm
      Apprenticeship Coordinator,
      James Niino
      		 844-2340
      Fridays
      Security
      		 284-1270(cell)
      845-9273
      Saturdays
      Apprenticeship Coordinator,
      James Niino
      		 844-2340
      Sundays
      Security
      		 284-1270(cell)
      845-9273

      b. Interim instructions as of 10/24/01 for non-emergency evacuation of persons with mobility problems using wheelchairs on Mondays through Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

      1. Once approval is received from above party, contact Handi-Cabs of the Pacific at 524-3866. This company has trained drivers who transport persons in wheelchairs and stretchers. Depending on their staffing, they may or may not be available to help us.

      2. Inform them of need to have person with mobility problem moved out of building:

          3. "I am calling from Honolulu Community College. We need assistance to get a person in a wheelchair out of he building. HCC and Handi-Cabs has an informal agreement that if scheduling permits, Handi-Cabs will send drivers to the campus to help carry the person down to a floor with an operable elevator or down to the ground floor if all elevators are inoperable. Additional information is as follows:

            Approximate weight of the person:_____
            Wheelchair user is in a ___regular or ___ electric wheelchair."

        If Handi-Cabs of the Pacific is able to assist, give directions:

          "Enter driveway off Kokea Street.
          Someone will meet you in the parking lot and will direct you to the building and floor that assistance is needed.
          We are in Building ___ Floor #___ Room #_____."

      3. Have at least one-person stay with the person needing assistance until help arrives.

      4. Send someone to meet vendor and escort up to floor.

      5. Invoice should be sent to HCC Administrative Services.


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