Currently, there is no standardized process for assessing the accessibility of recreation elements used for outdoor recreation, picnic and camping facilities although standards for specific outdoor recreation elements exist, the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines and the draft US Access Board Regulatory Negotiation Committee on Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas. This project will create a Developed Outdoor Recreation Assessment Process (DORAP) to be used to collect information about outdoor recreation elements and evaluate whether they comply with accessibility standards. The objectives of this project are to create valid and reliable methodologies for assessing recreation elements, training modules, electronic templates and a universal symbol system. DORAP accuracy and reliability will be established through expert review of repeated measurements of the same facilities by different people and at different times. DORAP will increase the availability of accessible outdoor products and facilities; enhance access, safety and satisfaction for users; and allow land managers to more accurately forecast maintenance budgets for existing facilities. Increased recreation facility information will enhance enjoyment by individuals of all abilities; including older adults, families with young children, people with disabilities, and their families and friends. This will enhance outdoor recreation environments for use by persons of all abilities in rural communities. OBJECTIVES: The Developed Outdoor Recreation Assessment Process (DORAP) project will create a unique assessment process that will specifically apply to the provisions of the 2006 Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines. The DORAP will determine compliance (full or with exceptions) for the following recreation elements: picnic tables, fire rings, cooking surfaces and grills, trash and recycling containers, wood stoves and fireplaces, viewing areas, telescopes and periscopes, benches, utility sinks, mobility device storage, pit toilets, utilities, tent pads, warming huts, and rinsing showers. No existing assessment system (e.g., the Universal Trail Assessment Process) provides standardized procedures for documenting the accessibility of these recreation elements. Data will be compatible with the INFRA, TRACs and TrailWare software. The specific technical objectives of the DORAP Phase I research project are: 1. Create standardized methodologies for all assessment parameters required for the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines; 2. Pilot test the DORAP data validity and reliability; 3. Create a detailed outline of the DORAP training module; 4. Develop an electronic template for export to TRACs, INFRA or TrailWare databases or the TrailExplorer Website to allow facility assessments to be recorded, analyzed and disseminated through standard information formats; and 5. Create universal symbol concepts to communicate accessibility information about outdoor recreation facilities. APPROACH: Objective 1 tasks include: identifying the criteria to be met in each section of the 2006 Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines and Forest Service Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails; performing measurements to determine where variability exists in the assessment of each outdoor recreation element; determining the assessment methodology required for each specific recreation element; drafting step-by-step procedures for the proposed DORAP measurements using the best assessment approach for each type of recreation element; and designing the forms, electronic templates and procedures for recording each measurement. Objective 2 tasks include: verifying validity of the measurement procedures by comparing the Project Advisory Board expert reviews, with their knowledge and expertise of accessibility and facility assessment, with the verification of access by UTAP Master Trainers; evaluating test-retest reliability by having one person complete repeated assessments of the same recreation elements at different times to determine compliance with the 2006 Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines; evaluating inter-rater reliability by having three different people independently complete assessments of the same recreation elements at different times to determine compliance with the 2006 Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines; and data analysis will consist of determining the consistency of gold standard measurements made by the Master Trainers and the Project Advisory Board experts along with power analysis and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients calculations. Objective 3 tasks include drafting a one-day training module and an outline of the draft content for sample sections of the training manual. Completion of the training course and materials will be accomplished during Phase II. Objective 4 tasks include identifying changes that need to be made in TrailWare and TrailExplorer in order to incorporate DORAP data. Changes to TrailWare and TrailExplorer will be completed during Phase II. Objective 5 tasks include developing concepts for universal symbols conveying accessibility. Evaluation of symbols will occur during Phase II
