Cheyenne, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: Older adults and residents with mobility challenges struggled to access all areas of the Rook Event Center because temporary wooden handrails were unstable and unsafe. Friends of the Rook replaced them with permanent, ADA-compliant handrails at key locations, including the top level, doorway transition and patio ramp. Volunteers assisted with design and cleanup. The new handrails improved safety and accessibility, enabling older adults to navigate the space confidently. At a recent fundraiser, many used the handrails to reach the lower level, and the project sparked community interest in further accessibility upgrades.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Fairfield, CT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: Older visitors often struggled to access the museum's flagship exhibition on regional history due to limited sight, hearing and language barriers. The project added large-print labels, Spanish translations, closed-captioned videos with audio headsets and a touchable topographic map. This helped create multiple ways to engage with the content. These upgrades have broadened participation among older adults and improved sensory-friendly experiences. Surveys show strong use of the new features, and the museum plans ongoing evaluation to refine accessibility and guide future projects.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Missoula, MT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Accessibility of amenities

Description: To expand access to people who have historically been left out of caving, spelunking and speleology activities, the Montana State Parks Foundation installed a new ADA-compliant weather and shade covering at the entrance to the Lewis and Clark Caverns Paradise Room. Since the project completed, thousands of tours of the cave's magnificent Paradise Room have taken place. The Montana State Parks Foundation has also secured more funding and has made similar accessibility improvements at other parks across the state. The project brought in new partners, increased community awareness of accessibility efforts and led to increased engagement from volunteers and visitors.