New World Survival · Community Garden Field Manual

Accessibility & Participation Workbook

Audit the complete garden experience from arrival through gardening, water, tools, rest, communication and shared participation. Use current accessibility standards where they apply and actual user testing everywhere.

Do not use this workbook to certify ADA compliance. Record the applicable authority and obtain qualified/local review when compliance is required.

1. Garden/operator profile

Garden / address

Operator

Landowner

Accessibility/code contact

2. Applicability screen

☐ State/local government program

☐ Private nonprofit/public-facing program

☐ School/institution

☐ Federal land/funding/ABA or Section 504 question

☐ State/local building/accessibility code reviewed

☐ Qualified accessibility review needed

Standards/authority to verify

3. Arrival-to-participation map

Draw transit/sidewalk/parking/drop-off, entrance/gate, sign-in/orientation, plots, water, tools, compost/common areas, seating/shade, restroom if provided and exit.

4. Route measurements

Segment	Clear width	Surface	Running slope	Cross slope	Turn/passing issue	Action

5. Wet-weather / seasonal route audit

Date/condition	Mud/rut	Loose mulch/gravel	Standing water	Vegetation narrowing	Hose/tool obstruction	Fix

6. Gate and entrance check

Actual clear opening

Maneuvering/approach

Latch reach/operation

Alternate accessible entrance?

7. Plot / bed reach mock-up

Bed/plot	Working position	One/two-sided access	Comfortable reach	Mature crop issue	Modify?
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other
	☐ seated ☐ standing ☐ kneeling ☐ other

8. Clear space / maneuvering check

Feature	Approach space	Turning/reversal	Slope/surface	Obstruction	Action

9. Water access

Water point	Approach stable?	Control reachable?	Easy operation?	Hose burden	Alternative

10. Tool/storage access

Task	Standard tool	Alternative size/grip/weight	Storage reachable?	Transport method

11. Seating, shade and rest

Location	On usable route?	Shade	Seat/back/arms options	Adjacent mobility-device space	Improvement

12. Restroom / drinking water / transportation disclosure

Restroom provided?
☐ yes ☐ no
Accessible route/facility verified?
☐ yes ☐ no ☐ n/a

Drinking water provided?
☐ yes ☐ no

Transit / accessible parking / drop-off

What members are told before joining

13. Signage and communication

Information	Standard format	Accessible electronic?	Large print / audio / caption / interpreter path	Owner

14. Sensory / cognitive usability

☐ Predictable route/map

☐ High-contrast / readable signs

☐ Visual task cards or plain-language instructions available

☐ Quiet/less crowded work option considered

☐ Hazards are not marked by color alone

☐ Orientation can be repeated or provided one-to-one

15. Participation menu

Garden obligation	Heavy task	Lower-exertion option	Seated/close-range option	Remote/flexible option	Equivalent contribution approved?

16. Modification / communication request routing

Who receives requests?

Backup contact

How request can be made

How decisions are documented

17. Service-animal / no-pets policy check

☐ General pet policy identified

☐ Covered-entity service-animal obligations reviewed

☐ Staff/volunteer orientation does not treat service animal as ordinary pet

☐ Route/water/animal-waste procedures are workable

18. Workday accessibility plan

Workday	Task range	Shade/rest	Communication method	Tool alternatives	Follow-up

19. Improvement priority matrix

Barrier	Prevents program access?	Safety?	Legal/standard verification?	Cost/effort	Priority	Owner/date
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify
					☐ now ☐ plan ☐ verify

20. Annual capability and handoff

☐ Applicable accessibility authority/standards recorded

☐ Arrival-to-plot route audited

☐ Wet-weather audit completed

☐ Bed reach tested with actual users

☐ Water/tools/rest route usable

☐ Communication alternatives documented

☐ Participation menu current

☐ Service-animal/modification routing current

☐ Priority barriers assigned

☐ Incoming steward can locate records and contacts