WASHINGTON, D.C.—National Park Service (NPS) Deputy Director Donald Murphy presented the 2004 National Accessibility Achievement Awards at a ceremony held today in Washington, D.C. Seven awards were presented in five categories, including, Sustained Park Accessibility Achievement, Programmatic Accessibility Achievement, Accessibility Leadership, Design Project Achievement (Architectural), and Accessible Website Achievement.

“It gives me great pleasure to be a part of this very special awards presentation,” said Murphy. “Ceremonies, such as this one, are the culmination of the National Park Service’s commitment to making sure that our parks are indeed accessible to all visitors. These outstanding recipients, both parks and individuals alike, are to be truly commended for having the dedication and determination to help fulfill our pledge. I am very proud to have this caliber of people working for the National Park Service.”

The Director’s Sustained Park Accessibility Achievement Award is an annual award recognizing a park that has made "sustained" efforts to provide and improve equal accessibility for persons with disabilities over a period of at least 3 years. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is the recipient of this award for their efforts to provide equal access for persons with disabilities, which has been an on-going effort for the past several years. It was initiated and directed by Superintendent Mark Woods, through his project entitled “Breaking the Barriers for Visitors and Employees to Park Resources and Opportunities.” This initiative comprehensively transformed park interpretive media, renovated existing facilities, constructed new visitor facilities, and expanded staff recruitment outreach to provide outstanding services to all visitors and employees including those who happen to have a disability. Devil’s Postpile National Monument received a Merit Award in this category for being committed to converting the small and previously inaccessible site into one that can be used and enjoyed by everyone, including those who happen to have a disability. A small, but dedicated staff of five to six seasonal employees has worked together to plan and develop an accessible campsite, accessible restrooms, accessible parking spaces, and an accessible day-use area.

The Programmatic Accessibility Achievement Award is an award given to an individual or group who has been responsible for the development, implementation or improvement of programs and services within the National Park System that exemplify the concept of universal accessibility. Salem Maritime National Historic Site (SAMA) is the recipient and receives this recognition for its project entitled “Universal Access to the Friendship of Salem.” The Friendship of Salem, which was constructed between 1996 and 2003, is a full-size (171-foot sparred length) reproduction of a 1797 Salem merchant vessel, one of only four square-rigged, three masted sailing ships in the United States.

At the time this project started, no standards existed for on-board or ship to shore accessibility. The ship has a 10-foot freeboard and sits in a nine to 11-foot tide range, making accessibility measures particularly difficult. Utilizing original design concepts, a stair lift was unobtrusively installed within the forward companionway to provide accessibility below decks; and, while retaining the historical accuracy of the decks, systems and furnishings were arranged to permit free passage for wheelchairs. Also, a permanent mooring and boarding facility was designed to provide full unassisted access between ship and shore during full tide range. A unique opportunity is now provided for wheelchair accessibility to this historic reproduction vessel.

The Accessibility Leadership Achievement Award is an award given to an individual or team whose active leadership has resulted in improved accessibility within the NPS for persons with disabilities; has increased visibility for the issue of accessibility in the parks; or has provided policy development or implementation. Richard (Dick) Dretsch is the recipient and has been a dedicated advocate of universal access in our parks throughout his 15-year career as an architect with the National Park Service. During his tenure as the Regional Accessibility Coordinator, he has overseen more than 24 accessibility projects in the region and designed approximately half of them. His designs have ranged from accessible ramps, to interpretive exhibits, to entire buildings and additions, whose primary emphasis has been accessibility compliance. He has also reviewed and redesigned portions of the Denver Service Center construction projects in his region to meet and exceed accessibility requirements for greater universal access for visitors and staff. He also was the first Regional Accessibility Coordinator to implement a “Regional Year-End Accessibility Assessment” to track accessibility accomplishments, as well as future accessibility needs in all parks in the Northeast Region. In 2001, he received the Northeast Region Maintenance and Engineering Accessibility Excellence Award.

Elena Crawford is the recipient of the Accessibility Leadership Achievement Merit Award. She is being recognized for her project entitled “Symbols Equal a Job Well Done.” The project consists of the development of a set of symbols indicating jobs to be performed by a park employee who has a cognitive disability. As the employee’s supervisor, Elena created a chart with color-coded days of the week at the top of columns. In the column for each day the employee is scheduled to work, she placed color-coded symbols of the jobs to be performed that day. These same color-coded symbols are printed on cards that are attached to a set of keys needed for that day. The employee checks the chart, picks up the keys and symbol cards, and is able to perform his duties with minimal supervision. The keys hang next to the chart in the supply room, and as the employee returns the keys each day, he can check off the duties he performed that day. Before Elena designed these symbols, the employee was having difficulty in completing his duty schedule and had to be consistently reminded what job to perform next. This new system has resulted in enhanced job performance as well as a noticeable rise in his self-esteem.

The Design Project Architectural Accessibility Achievement Award is an award given to an individual or team responsible for the design, construction or renovation of a site, building or facility within the National Park System that creatively exemplifies the concept of universal accessibility and resource protection. This year’s award goes to Voyageurs National Park for the design and construction of the Ash River Visitor Center Paddle Access Trail and Staging Area. This area is a major starting and staging point for thousands of park visitors each summer.

Prior to the completion of this project, visitors with paddle watercraft shared a long concrete boat launch ramp with boaters who were launching/retrieving/loading motor boats up to 30 feet in length. This mix of use often caused conflicts between both user groups and made for an unsafe mix of visitor activities. In addition, the existing ramp provided a very steep and unsafe path of travel for visitors who might have a mobility limitation. This project consisted of the design and construction of a new trail that connects the Ash River Visitor Center parking lot with the Kabetogama Lake shoreline. This new trail separates the smaller watercraft users from those launching larger boats and provides a much safer environment for everyone. It also utilizes the concepts of universal design, by incorporating the accessibility provisions of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, thus making the route accessible to everyone, including those with mobility limitations.

The Accessible Website Achievement Award is an award given to an individual, team or park responsible for installing, updating or maintaining NPS related websites. This year’s award is presented to Wyndeth (Wendy) Davis.

During her tenure as National Web Accessibility Coordinator, Wendy Davis has brought the distributed web authorship of www.nps.gov into compliance with the Rehabilitation Act. While other agencies were struggling to meet the Department’s June 2001 deadline for compliance, Wendy was proactive, creating and promoting the Web Accessibility Website, granting interviews with “Government Computer News” magazine, training more than 300 web authors in 16 national and regional workshops, and making countless informal contacts through email, telephone calls and attending conferences. Wendy also created and maintained the specific website for accessibility within the NPS. This site, www.nps.gov/access, provides information to the public about the accomplishments of the NPS in making the parks as accessible as they can for people with disabilities.

An eighth award in the category of Volunteer Accessibility Achievement will be presented later this year at a spring luncheon to honor recipients of the George B. Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteers. This award will be presented to BWXT Y-12 Volunteers of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for their longstanding relationship with Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The NPS initiated the National Accessibility Achievement Award Program in 1998. The purpose of the program is to recognize outstanding accomplishments that result in greater opportunities for persons with disabilities that visit or work within the NPS.