CHUCK KILLINGSWORTH: Good afternoon. First of all, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this hearing. I was also involved with Cindy and John and a couple of others with the National Recreation and Park Association working group. I happen to teach at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas in the area of therapeutic recreation. I've been there since 1994. I also taught for a number of years of Mount Royal College in Alberta Canada in the area of therapeutic recreation and I've worked with a variety of different client groups, including individuals with cognitive impairments, head injury survivors, and older people.
So both teaching and practical experience. I'll be addressing primarily picnic areas in my comments. And first of all, with question seven. We believe that cooking grills should be fully adjustable and allow for adjustments to be completed with the use of one hand or arm or applicable assistive device applicable assistive device. To allow a person who may be using a wheelchair or even with perhaps limited strength be able to adjust a grill so that it can be used from a variety of persons. This would accommodate the largest number of users of all abilities. Grills should be adjustable up to a maximum height of 48 inches and no lower than 15 inches above ground level. On question eight the term "area" needs to be defined. We suggest using advisory language.
All right, OK. Isn't technology wonderful? Especially if you use it.
[LAUGHTER]
So question eight, the advisory language provided in the box text following proposed to have 2.2, thus, that particular item should read "multiple picnic tables, where two or more fixed picnic tables are provided in a picnic area, at least 50%, but never less than 2 must comply with T306. An area refers to a designated location where picnic-related elements are located. Areas may be separated and include different settings on the same site. For example, a picnic area located next to a lake in a park is considered a separate picnic area from a pavilion with numerous picnic tables within the same park. Picnic areas may also be separated and designated by a name or connected to a separate entrance. So we want clarification on that. And I think this helps do that.
Question 10. We believe the scoping requirements, as proposed, are acceptable. We agree that in most cases, 50% of the elements provided should be accessible. Of those elements required to be accessible, 40% are also required to be connected by an outdoor recreation access route.
Question 11. We believe that the reach range should be a maximum height of 48 inches and a low of 15 inches with a 9-inch low reach for the fire building surface of a fire ring. Concern for safety, both fire and personal must be reflected in determining adequate reach range.
Question 14. We recognize the perception and we generally believe that all elements should be accessible. Either by technology or other means, it is feasible that someone with a disability will be able to get to that picnic table and therefore should be accessible. So what we're saying is trying to maximize, again, the accessibility. And even looking to the future, you know, if an area has a picnic table, maybe it doesn't need to be replaced today, but what about next week or next year? It needs to be made accessible and access to that provided.
And finally, question 24. Deciding upon which type of technical provisions should be recommended is beyond our expertise. You know, we aren't the technicians in that area. However, controls and operating mechanisms for fireplaces should be as accessible as possible, ideally allowing for one-handed operation, as I had mentioned before.
Thank you again.