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<br />410:2 <br /> <br />Existing facilities: when change is not necessary, <br /> <br />Again, a recipient need not alter its existing facilities or replace existing facilities with new <br /> <br /> <br />ones if other means are successful in achieving program accessibility. <br /> <br />Seclion 504 does not require the recipient to make all existing facilities barrier free. Physical <br /> <br /> <br />barriers may be present in a recipient's facilities so long as these barriers do nOl hinder the full <br /> <br />participation of handicapped persons in each program and activity. when each is viewed in its <br /> <br />entirety, The distinction between existing facilities and new facilities, however. must be <br /> <br /> <br />emphasized, Existing facilities need nm be made architecturally accessible unless this is the only <br /> <br />means of achie\'ing program accessibility, But all new facilities-in other words, those constructed <br /> <br /> <br />or renovated after finalization of indi\'idual agency regulations-must be architecturally accessible <br /> <br /> <br />(see '420). In issuing their section 504 rulmakings, federal agencies reference the particular <br /> <br /> <br />accessibility standard to be used by recipients when undertaking renovations, alterations and new <br /> <br />construction (see discussion at '440), <br /> <br />Survey of each facility is not required <br /> <br /> <br />There is no requirement in any section 504 regulations that a recipient survey its facilities. <br /> <br /> <br />Surveys of facilities may have certain advantages for recipients: (I) should a recipient need or <br /> <br />wish to reschedule a program or activity to an accessible facility, the facility survey could be <br /> <br /> <br />consulted, and an alternative facility readily located: (2) in the event of any future renovations to a <br /> <br />facility, the recipient could consult the survey to ensure that such renovations, to the extent <br /> <br />possible, improve the overall access of the facililY, <br /> <br /> <br />Recipients should utilize the proper accessibility standards (see 1440, and the Facility <br /> <br /> <br />Accessibility Assessment Tool in Appendix VI) when undertaking any survey, Recipients are <br /> <br />reminded that any survey undertaken should make use of a survey team that includes handicapped <br /> <br /> <br />persons from the community, It is also important for the survey team to bear in mind the "type" <br /> <br /> <br />of person who will most likely be using the facility (e.g., a child? adults only? the general public'? <br /> <br /> <br />college students? specialized personnel only?). Where renovations are necessary, they should. to <br /> <br /> <br />the extent possible, be made to accommodate the "user group." <br /> <br />Necessary facility changes must be made within three years <br /> <br />The regulations (Appendix III: 1, *85.57(b)) state that when structural changes are necessary to <br /> <br /> <br />make programs or activities in existing facilities accessible. such changes shall be made as soon as <br /> <br />practicable. but in no event, later t~an three years after the effective date of the individual agency <br /> <br /> <br />regulations. However, if a program is a particular mode of transportation (e.g.. a subway system) <br /> <br /> <br />that can be made accessible only through extraordinarily expensive structural changes to. or <br /> <br />replacement of. exisling facilities and if other accessible modes of transportation are available. the <br /> <br /> <br />.federal agency responsible for enforcing section 504 with respect 10 that program may extend this <br /> <br />period of time. Such an extension, however. would have to be for a reasonable and definite period <br /> <br />Federal Programs Advisory Service March' 985 <br /> <br />Handicapped Requirements Handbook <br />