Accessibility Grading

Here in Australia, we have less than idea accessibility for those with disabilities when it comes to exploring our parkland, national parks & wilderness. Currently things are accessible or not accessible, but disability is not binary and can affect access to places just as much.

Not every disability is equal, and neither is access to our parkland with no unified system in Australia yet that helps those with disabilities or mobility problems have the information needed to explore those spaces safely. I am proposing an accessibility grading system where, not only those with disabilities and their carers can learn what to expect in advance, but assist locals and tourists to explore the same area and have same level of independent choice of challenges or safety that able-bodied users of our parkland have available to them. This will help us reach the principles of universal access that are laid out by the local governments and the United Nations

Framework Principles

I have designed a graphical system and statistical framework that can be used digitally and/or physically without it interrupting or replacing any existing systems.

It is a grading number between 0 and 4 to denote the mobility and independence needs of the trail, campsite or recreation area. Not all disabilities are equal and neither are tracks, trails and sites and this kind of informative system can help persons with mobility issues or disabilities make informed decisions on where they can and want to explore.

If you would like to read the specifics, you can by clicking here.


  • Grade 4 – Above and beyond accessible (Suited to high-needs persons with disabilities and recognises places who go beyond basic requirements)

  • Grade 3 – Meets accessibility legislation

  • Grade 2 – Accessible but challenging (accessible for active wheelchair users and those who wish to avoid stairs)

  • Grade 1 – Minimal maintained accessibility (accessible to those with minor mobility issues but not wheelchair accessible. For example, contains stairs and/or too steep for wheelchairs)

  • Grade 0 – Has no maintained accessibility (Suited for able bodied and/or experienced hikers, trails not regularly maintained etc)

How Can This Benefit People

Here are some examples of real-world situations that this kind of system can help.

  • Physiotherapists and medical professionals can prescribe physical activity for rehabilitation and prescribe a known grade that would be safe for the client’s mobility level and has this opportunity for being informed about conditions before exploring.

  • Mental health professionals will have the resources available to prescribe activities in the outdoors that match the client’s physical skill level which has been shown to be an underutilised tool to help combat depression, anxiety etc.

  • Active Wheelchair users can find new areas to explore without worrying about reaching unexpected impassable barriers

  • Carers and Support Workers can find more outdoors options for peoples physical and mental well-being that match their clients level of independence.

  • Disability support groups would have the ability to plan excursions for their clients that are best adapted to their groups mobility level while still able to create a challenge if they want.

  • Tourists with mobility issues can have easy access to find out what they have available to do and participate in at their skill level with minimal learning.

  • These grading metrics can provide crucial information to government parkland management agencies to see if there is more access challenges in some parks and landmarks than others.


Example Map

Accessibility Is Not Only

For Disability

But Can Help Everyone Access More


Grading Framework

Grade 4

Grade 4 – Above and Beyond Accessibility

For something to meet Grade 4, Everything would need to be met to be at least their maintained minimum standards. (This would be excluding disasters, major storms etc where accessibility may temporarily reduce, but would not affect the grade unless a new maintained level is less accessible)

Walking Track/Trail

Must Exceed existing accessibility requirements by >25% margin

  1. Minimum Width of 2 meters to allow wheelchairs to pass each other comfortably

  2. Gradient of paths

    1. never exceeds 1 to 16 ratio for more than 10% of the trails length and no longer than 10 meters at a time.

  3. Paths must have pronounced constant physical edge to to assist the visually impaired to navigate independently.

Campsite

  1. Campsite must contain at least clean and sanitary toilets that are flushable and cleaned regularly to allow optimal sanitary conditions for continence issues to be managed inside safely.

  2. All Signage in the site must have braille formats available

  3. Any barriers to stop traffic from entering water must be narrow enough for blind persons with assistive technology can find them.

Buildings (Visitors Center) and/or Recreation Areas

  1. Buildings that contain toilets must have toilets that can be accessed by all persons irrespective of disability or gender.

    1. At least one toilet must have an adult-sized changing bed and a hoist usable for users with complex physical needs.

  2. All building entrances and paths must be the same for able-bodied as well as persons with disabilities.

  3. Visitors with disabilities will not have to skip content for them to have full choice interactions with default services.

Grade 3

Grade 3 – Meets Legal Accessibility

Walking Track/Trail

  1. Terrain of the route is of a firm or compact hardness for the entire route.

  2. All applicable Accessibility legislation for wheelchair ramps and pathways (widths, ratios, services etc) have been met.

  3. Path has a clear enough boundary that the visually impaired or blind can navigate without undue risk of falling or walking away from the path.

Campsite

  1. Campsite must contain wheelchair accessible toilets.

  2. Terrain is of a firm or compact hardness for the entire site.

  3. Major Information Panels have braille option

  4. Campsite contains no stairs or barriers that able-bodied pedestrians can overcome. (low beams or guide poles that can stop a wheelchair passing over)

  5. Campsite must never have a gradient more than 5%. (near-flat)

Buildings (Visitors Center) and/or Recreation Areas

  1. All buildings must at least meet all state and federal accessibility legislation at a minimal level.

Grade 2

Grade 2 – Accesibile but Challenging

These graded services are for users who are wheelchair users looking for greater challenges, while making routes safer for those with minor mobility issues

Walking Track/Trail

  1. Trail are no more than 150% of the gradient of a standard wheelchair ramp.

    1. In Australia this would come to a 1 to 4 ratio.

  2. Terrain of the route is of a firm or compact hardness for at least 80% the entire route.

  3. Trail cannot contain any stairs or boulders that a wheelchair axle can’t overcome.

Campsite

  1. Campsite must contain wheelchair accessible toilets of some kind. (Users with continence issues that wish to use the campsite will know to be prepared appropriately)

  2. Terrain is of a firm or compact hardness for at least 75% of the entire site but can overcome with assistance given.

  3. Campsite contains no stairs or barriers that able-bodied pedestrians can overcome. (low beams or guide poles that can stop a wheelchair passing over)

  4. Campsite must never have a gradient more than 10%. (gentle slope) in 50% of the site

Buildings (Visitors Center) and/or Recreation Areas

All major services meet accessibility legislation. (Some buildings or services (information boards) may not have wheelchair access/braille etc.)

Grade 1

Grade 1 – Minimal Accessibility

These graded services are for users people with minor mobility issues, use assistive technology like braces, crutches and walking sticks

Walking Track/Trail

  1. Trails contain stairs.

  2. Major sets of stairs have at least a handrail for assistance.

  3. Gradients steeper than 150% of the gradient of a legislated wheelchair ramp has a handrail along the applicable slopes of some kind (to assist walkers with mobility issues)

  4. Route is not wheelchair accessible.

Campsite

  1. Campsite may not contain a wheelchair accessible toilet. (Users with continence issues and/or wheelchair users that wish to use the campsite will know to be prepared appropriately)

  2. Terrain is of a firm or compact hardness for at least for major pathways.

  3. Campsite may contain stairs needed to reach any or all campsites major areas.

Buildings (Visitors Center) and/or Recreation Areas

Some services meet accessibility legislation. (People affected by this would recommend to call ahead before arriving to learn any specific options available)

Grade 0

Grade 0 – No Maintained Accessibility

These graded services are for users people that are able bodied or are experienced hikers who do not need to worry about any maintained accessibility. The demographics that this applies would use existing grading systems used by our roads and parklands.

Walking Track/Trail

  1. Trails have no maintained accessibility (Forestry roads, 4WD access only areas)

Campsite

  1. Campsite may not contain any maintained accessibility (Wilderness or off-road campsites)

Buildings (Visitors Center) and/or Recreation Areas

No services meet accessibility legislation. (Landmark summits of mountainous hiking trails for example would not have or need accessibility if the only routes to them have no accessibility)