Worksite Accessibility Services Include:
On-Site Evaluation: Ficocelli Design will perform a through onsite survey of the workspace and a task analysis for work flow, workstation configuration, and equipment interaction, frequency, and positioning.
Ergonomic Workplace Design, Specification, Adaptations and Modifications: We will design the workspace to suit the needs of the individual, the tasks performed by them, and the applicable ergonomic principles dictated by the those criteria. When needed, CADD drawings of the modified or newly designed workstation or workspace are created so that the modifications can be completed.
Ergonomic Office Seating Evaluation: The heart of the workstation environment is often the chair in which a person sits for many hours a day. It is the seated position which is the base point of the ergonomics of the rest of the workstation. This chair must be suited to the physiology of the individual and the tasks performed. One size often does not fit all.
Industrial Work Environments: Ficocelli Design can assist with the evaluation of industrial work environments for workflow, ergonomic functionality, and safety. In many instances, the ergonomic issues associated with repetitive motion job functions have relatively simple solutions. Often times those solutions become not only a benefit to the individual whose situation initiated the evaluation, but also benefits many other individuals performing the same or a similar job function. Therefore, the accommodation has a more far-reaching benefit and cost-benefit ratio.
Rural & Farm Work Environments: We have facilitated many accommodations to those who work in rural environments and in the farming industry. These services have included modifications to tractors, farm implements and equipment, custom design of adaptive equipment, and custom modifications to prosthetics.
Facility and Parking Accessibility: Often times there are misunderstandings by the mainstream public about the importance of accessible parking and facilities. Until we are in a position where we experience the need for easy access to an environment, it is unclear to us as to why it's necessary. This is a critical facet of facility accessibility, not only to facilitate the functionality and productivity of employees, but equally as important to facilitate the ease of access by patrons. Retail establishments have huge issues of accessibility because they're constantly fighting the cost of retail space as a marketing venue, versus making it accessible. Here again, creativity and experience can bring to bear some very important and valuable methodologies for bringing these two criteria together for a win-win solution.
Adaptive Tools and Equipment: This is a very large category and encompasses tools for the work environment, computer access, the home environment and aides to daily living, as well as equipment for the physical transit of an individual for accessibility between various spaces within a work environment or a home. In our 20+ years of consulting experience in this field, we have watched and followed the myriad of manufacturers who have come into existence and grown as the understanding and awareness of the needs of individuals with disability and the aging population became more known. Often through the pursuits of pioneering grassroots individuals like rehabilitation technologists, the manufacturers were pushed to develop new technologies. It is critically important that we stay apprised of what is available. There are new pieces of adaptive software and hardware that become available daily. Though it is impossible to know about every technological advance, it is critically important that there be a broad base of understanding, as well as the creative ability to see the potential of these different tools. Ficocelli Design brings this experience and creativity to the table, as well as a knowledge and understanding of the vendors of these products, so that our clients can be assured of the quality and competency of the adaptive equipment that has been recommended for their particular situation.
Custom Design and Fabrication: Though the adaptive equipment and technology market has been a rapidly expanding one, there are still occasions, due to the uniqueness of individuals with disabilities and their functional requirements, when the need does arise to custom modify, or completely design from scratch, some piece of adaptive equipment. Mr. Ficocelli, having a background in product design and manufacturing design experience, can design, develop, and facilitate the fabrication of custom-designed adaptive equipment to meet our clients specific and unique functional requirements.
ADA Compliance Assistance: Ficocelli Design brings a great deal of practical experience solving problems in real-world situations for a broad variety of disability types. Couple that with having been a part of a federally funded training program on the ADA, we bring a unique combination of skill sets to assist with ADA compliance. We work to facilitate an understanding of how the ADA applies to a given situation, and more importantly how we can create a winning situation in our clients work force and patrons, so that their business can benefit from the diversity of the population of our country. Having spent many years doing training programs on the ADA and providing consultation in the areas of employee accommodations and accessibility, Ficocelli Design can easily assist businesses in accommodating their employees, and/or creating an accessible facility, thereby expanding their market and reaching out to their community.
Bid Solicitation and Vendor Coordination: Ficocelli Design has endeavored to create a worry-free consulting service to our clients. Developing the bid specifications, identifying appropriate vendors, coordinating the bid solicitation process, as well as engaging in and coordinating the implementation process for a set of recommendations, is a critical facet to facilitating a effective final solution to the home, worksite, or computer access problem that is presented to us.
Implementation, Installation, and Setup: This is also a critical facet of the comprehensive service delivery model to which Ficocelli Design ascribes. In being of service, we want to be able to be available to assist in every step of the process as needed. Commonly, an evaluation can be completed and recommendations made, then the process falls flat because there are not functional means for bringing the project to fruition. Ficocelli Design avails ourselves to our clients for the facilitation of a project from start to finish. The process, starting with an evaluation, then proceeding to implementation, coordination with employers, managers, and staff, delivery and set up of a piece of adaptive equipment, the testing, setup, and configuration of an entire computer system with adaptive hardware and software, or the delivery and assembly of a new ergonomic workstation and office chair, are all important facets of bringing a project to fruition. Any or all of these aspects of the process can be addressed by us. Many times it is far more time efficient to have Ficocelli Design provide these services than to contract elsewhere with a second individual, or in some cases to wait for internal staff within a corporation to have the time on their schedule to accommodate an individual, which can cause a loss of valuable work time.
Training: Training is one of the most understated aspects of this entire process in most cases. Proper training can be the difference between success and failure. It’s the difference between reaping huge benefits from the application of assistive or adaptive technology, and that technology sitting on a shelf unused. Or the difference between an individual experiencing significant additional frustration to their already difficult routine, or finding their load lightened by having their functional abilities increased and doors opened widely for them to be able to accomplish tasks and contribute to their company or society in ways previously inaccessible to them. Ficocelli Design places a strong emphasis on thorough training of individuals and setting up a unique training plan which allows the necessary time to become proficient and independent, meets the needs of their distinctive learning style, their ability to assimilate information, and the difficulties of the particular technology being utilized.
Follow Along and Follow-Up: Follow along and follow-ups are also a very necessary and important part of the process. Follow along ensures that the process proceeds effectively and efficiently and that the needs are met according to the original specifications. Follow-up is critically important to ensure that the funding source is paying only for work that is completed properly to specifications and is functional. It ensures that the individual receiving the service has received what was expected, and it ensures the quality of the vendors and outside service providers that are engaged in the implementation process for current and future projects.
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