Disabled Zoo access?

[livndisney]

Does anyone know the guidelines for a zoo? Or links to check out for current laws? Does a zoo have to be accessable? Just a portion?

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I thought but not positive that all buildings that receive funding from the government should be accessible. I really don't know but I just thought. Please let us know. Did you have a problem?

 

[SueM in MN]

how accessible things are will depend on how old they are. Anything built in the 1990s would have been accessible at the time that it was built. In general, that means things like having ramps in place of stairs (or in addition to stairs) and if there are viewing windows, there also would be a lower viewing window for people using wheelchairs and ECVs.

Anything built before 1990 may or may not be accessible. Any renovations done would need to be made accessible if possible. Sometimes things are not possibley to make accessible. Most zoos I have been in have been pretty accessible though. They tend to have ramps or hills and a lot of them have lower windows or view areas because a lot of kids come to zoos.

Do you have a specific zoo in mind?

 

[livndisney]

how accessible things are will depend on how old they are. Anything built in the 1990s would have been accessible at the time that it was built. In general, that means things like having ramps in place of stairs (or in addition to stairs) and if there are viewing windows, there also would be a lower viewing window for people using wheelchairs and ECVs.

Anything built before 1990 may or may not be accessible. Any renovations done would need to be made accessible if possible. Sometimes things are not possibley to make accessible. Most zoos I have been in have been pretty accessible though. They tend to have ramps or hills and a lot of them have lower windows or view areas because a lot of kids come to zoos.

Do you have a specific zoo in mind?

I have visted a local zoo and "something" was bothering me, it finally dawned on me. I have never seen a wheelchair or Ecv at the zoo. When I took a good look around, it was easy to see why. A portion of the zoo is dirt and hilly. I am not sure an ECV could even get up the hill and I would certainly not want to be the person pushing a wheelchair up there. To my knowledge the only restroom a wheelchair would fit into is located outside the zoo past the entrance. The rest of the restrooms are "closets" at best. The gift shop is not at all set up to move an ECV around. To watch an animal show you would have to roll over grass, rocks and dirt and sit in the far back. The exit has a large manual gate that I think would be very hard to open for a wheelchair guest. And they just built a zip line attraction thats is so NOT accesible for a variety of special needs.

 

[SueM in MN]

I can't look for a link right now, but there are guidelines for amusement parks and similar things. If someone doesn't post it before I get back, I will look for it tonight.

 

[mechurchlady]

San Diego Wild Animal Park has a cart for disabled guests to get them around the steep area. It required me pushing mom up a hill to see the condors. I hit a hole in the bridge and nearly lost mom as she slid half way out of the chair. On one hill I gave mom my flip flops and had to back down the hill. Bare feet for extra traction and backwards because if I lost control she would run over me and I could wedge under her chair to stop her.

San Diego Zoo has disabled friendly stuff but again some hills. Los Angeles Zoo has disabled friendly stuff but again hills at times. Some zoos do not have hills and sometimes a disabled guest can get around a zoo.

If you have a specific park in mind then someone can give you first hand knowledge or I can research for you.

 

[Tiggerish]

The Brookfield Zoo in Chicago is very accessible with both ramps, lower window viewing areas, handicapped seating for shows and good sized aisles in the stores. The zoo also has ECVs that you can reserve for rent. There is a tram that stops in several places within the zoo so you can just do the things near the stops if have limited mobility or stamina. Also there are benches every where for stopping to rest.

 

[Schmeck]

I have visted a local zoo and "something" was bothering me, it finally dawned on me. I have never seen a wheelchair or Ecv at the zoo. When I took a good look around, it was easy to see why. A portion of the zoo is dirt and hilly. I am not sure an ECV could even get up the hill and I would certainly not want to be the person pushing a wheelchair up there. To my knowledge the only restroom a wheelchair would fit into is located outside the zoo past the entrance. The rest of the restrooms are "closets" at best. The gift shop is not at all set up to move an ECV around. To watch an animal show you would have to roll over grass, rocks and dirt and sit in the far back. The exit has a large manual gate that I think would be very hard to open for a wheelchair guest. And they just built a zip line attraction thats is so NOT accesible for a variety of special needs.

Sounds like a very old, privately owned zoo. There's also a clause in the ADA that states that if the accomodations would 'fundamentally change the nature' of the attraction, it doesn't have to have accomodations. Doesn't sound like a very fun zoo though!

 

[livndisney]

According to what I have found, it is a "privately owned non profit" zoo owned by the Zoo board. They get a lot of donations from local businesses.

 

[mechurchlady]

can ytou give us a hint as to what zoo this is as it is hard to say anything without knowing the history, location, and date of modifications and when built.