Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) - Charlottesville

There are four accessible parking spaces, two on each side of the building.

Although only two spaces are labeled as accessible and only one is labeled as “van accessible,” all spaces meet the dimensional requirements for a van space due to the eight foot wide access aisle.

Each accessible space has a slight cross slope due to the slope of the parking lot itself.

The pavement markings for the accessible spaces have faded significantly.

The path from the marked accessible spaces where you first enter the parking lot to the main entrance is slightly more steep, especially at the curb cut area, than the other side of the building, but no greater than 8%, and otherwise the paths to the entrance are relatively flat.

The paths from either side of the building's accessible parking to the main step free entrance at the front of the building are both less than 100 feet long in distance.

The accessible, step free, entrance is on the north side of the building, closest to Greenbriar Drive, although there is no sign directing you to the step free accessible entrance.

There is also an entrance on the opposite side of the building, away from the road, with a staircase leading up to a door which is open and available to the public starting at 7:30 AM, but requires a code to access the door before then.

The staircase has handrails on both sides that are 34 inches above the step, measured from the front edge of each step.

There are handrail extensions at the bottom of the staircase, but not at the top.

The accessible entrance door is manual-without a push button opener, pull to enter, and the door hardware is accessible, not requiring any pinching, twisting, or tight grasping, and at an accessible height.

If you need assistance entering the building or the SARA suite itself, visitors are encouraged to call the office at (434) 977-7273.

The clear width of the accessible entrance is at least 32 inches wide.

Once inside the building, the main pathway for the entryway is greater than 36 inches wide all the way to the door to the SARA suite.

The SARA suite entrance door is on the main entry level, is push to enter, and has at least a 32 inch wide clear width.

Next to the door is some identification signage for SARA with good contrast, but minimal tactile characters and no braille.

The entrance door to SARA is relatively lightweight, with accessible door hardware, not requiring pinching, twisting, or grasping, and is at an accessible height.

On the interior side of the SARA suite door, maneuvering clearance is less than 18 inches next to the door due to furniture.

Immediately inside the step-free building entrance is a bench with the seating surface at an accessible height with a backrest and armrests.

The flooring surface of the shared building space and the suite itself is a mix of tile and low profile, compact carpeting with the occasional area rug in the offices.

The doorways inside the suite are all 32 inches wide, except for the restrooms.

A few of the individual offices have pathways that are less than 32 inches wide due to the arrangement of furniture- most of which can be easily moved if needed.

There is plenty of seating at accessible heights in the waiting area as well as the offices, although a few offices have seating that is slightly higher or lower than an accessible seating height, and not all seating has armrests.

Some of the desks are lower than an accessible height by a few inches or do not have adequate knee space underneath them.

Several filing cabinets, shelves, and overhead cabinets at shared desks and offices are outside of an accessible reach range of 15-48 inches.

The reception desk is above an accessible height and some of the pamphlets or informational brochures may be difficult to reach as they are above or below an accessible height, but staff are happy to assist if needed.

Signage, both directional and identification type, is limited or inconsistent, generally throughout, but there are a few offices with individual employee names on signs with decent contrast but no braille or tactile.

The site is typically not too crowded or noisy.

All light switches within the space are manual, and are slightly higher than 48 inches above the floor.

Most of the office is quiet and each individual office can be turned into a more private quiet space if needed.

All of the windows have blinds that can limit or increase the amount of light coming into a space if needed, although the mechanisms to open and close them require grasping and/or twisting of the wrist.

There are two single use restrooms within the SARA office suite which either have a door that is too narrow to enter, and/or have grab bars that are missing from around the toilet.

One restroom has a side wall grab bar at an accessible height, but no rear wall grab bar, and the other restroom has a rear wall grab bar and a vertical side wall grab bar, but no horizontal side wall grab bar.

Sinks in both restrooms are at an accessible height, but have no knee space underneath due to under sink cabinets.

Paper towels, soap, and sink controls are manually operated and are at an accessible height.

One of the restrooms also has furniture and a trash can behind the door that prevents the door from opening fully.

There is some shelving space in the restrooms for placing small items, but no coat hooks.

We recommend asking the staff for the code to the single occupant restroom in the building hallway if an accessible restroom is needed.

The code must be entered on a keypad on the door handle.

The door for the hall restroom is quite heavy, but the restroom has grab bars around the toilet and an accessible sink with knee space.

The mirror in the hall bathroom is above 40 inches from the floor to the bottom of the reflective surface.

All restrooms have manual light switches that are 49-51 inches above the floor.

Staff is friendly, and ready to help however they can. For example, staff can help open and close any doors, help you find quiet areas if needed, etc.

Their website has lots of great accessibility information.

There is some shelving in one of the restrooms at an accessible height.

Bottled water is available if needed and there’s a water cooler.

Feedback can be given via paper and pencil or on their website.

The location is defined as service animal friendly on their website.

There are stress balls and other fidget toys in some individual staff offices.

Some outlets are at an accessible height.

Employees are going through, or have completed, disability etiquette training to differentiate and elevate their customer service.