SCOTT COUNTY, IOWA (October 11, 2019) — According to the 2013-2017 US Census estimate, 7% of people under 65 years of age living in Scott County have a disability. Scott County has recently installed seven wheelchair charging stations in various locations to make its facilities even more accessible for visitors in battery-powered wheelchairs or scooters. The charging stations have been installed at the Scott County Courthouse, Scott County Administrative Center, Scott County Park Pool, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible campgrounds in Scott County and West Lake Parks.
The wheelchair charging-stations are composed of a basic power source for on-board chargers, 24V 5A three-stage battery-charger, and a dual USB charging-port. All cords are included, so the user just needs to plug in their wheelchair or scooter to recharge.
Tammy Speidel, Facility and Support Director stated, “We are pleased to be able to offer wheelchair charging-stations in our buildings to support the needs of constituents that may be in need of a charge to their wheelchair or scooter when visiting one of our buildings.” On average, 1,000 people visit the Scott County Courthouse and Administrative Center daily.
Scott County Conservation offers ADA accessible campgrounds and facilities to promote healthy lifestyles and provide an opportunity for outdoor physical activity, such as trails, swimming, kayaking, golfing, etc. “Conservation welcomes thousands of visitors per day, some of whom are disabled citizens.” says Roger Kean, Director of Scott County Conservation. “Installing wheelchair charging-stations at ADA-accessible campgrounds and our pool helps Conservation achieve goals of being more inclusive and encouraging disabled citizens to participate in outdoor recreation.”
The wheelchair charging stations were purchased using Disability Inclusive 5-2-1-0 funding from the Iowa Department of Public Health. For more information about the wheelchair charging stations, call 563-326-8611.
