New accessibility improvements enhance campus experience

As the Ohio University community begins a new academic year, several recent and ongoing projects across campus are making OHIO’s facilities and spaces more accessible to students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Among the recently completed projects are improvements at the Kennedy Museum of Art, the Muck Annex and Alden Library, with additional accessibility work underway in other areas of campus.

New accessible restrooms in Alden Library
Two fully accessible, single-user restrooms are now available on the first floor of Alden Library following a renovation designed to provide a more accessible restroom option for library visitors.

The renovated restrooms opened to the public July 15. The space was originally designed as a men's restroom when Alden Library was constructed in 1969, years before the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, and was not designed as an accessible space.

The renovated space now includes two accessible single-user restrooms and one non-accessible single-user restroom. One of the accessible restrooms also includes a changing table.

The project was a collaborative effort between University Accessibility Services and Ohio University Libraries.

The renovation is part of OHIO's continued efforts to improve accessibility across campus.

Additional accessibility projects
Several other accessibility projects have also been completed or are underway including:

• A new wheelchair lift in Lin Hall to provide full access to the Kennedy Museum of Art. 
• A new wheelchair lift in the Muck Business Annex to provide full access to classrooms located within the annex. 
• Automatic door openers have been installed at the public restrooms in the Kennedy Museum of Art
• The pathway from Parking Lot 200 at The Ridges to the Kennedy Museum wheelchair lift is being resurfaced to create a fully accessible route for museum guests. 
• Automatic door openers are being installed at both the north and south main entrances of Irvine Hall. The work is expected to be completed by October 2026.