Balance Clinic with Ivy Rehab - Ortonville

Join us on Wednesday, June 26, from 11 AM–1 PM for a special pop-up event in partnership with Ivy Rehab – Ortonville. Stop by the library to participate in a free 15-minute Balance Clinic with a licensed therapist, designed to support your mobility and prevent falls.

While you wait, library staff will be chatting with attendees to gather thoughts and feedback about physical accessibility in the library, including restroom access and mobility challenges. Your voice helps shape our ongoing accessibility improvements, funded in part by a national grant from the American Library Association.

Whether you’re here for your health or here to help your library, be part of the conversation that is opening doors. 

Ivy Rehab – Ortonville is generously providing their specialized therapists, skilled in post-surgical PT, concussion, dry needling, Parkinson’s, vertigo, vestibular, balance & strength, to help us better understand and support the mobility needs of our community. We’re grateful for their partnership in making the library a more accessible space for all.  You can contact Ivy Rehab – Ortonville by phone at (248) 793-5730, walking in to our location at 1764 S Ortonville Rd, or online at https://ivyrehab.com/physical-therapy-location/ortonville-mi/

ADA Restroom Accessibility Project

Our project seeks to address a significant barrier within our facility: the heavy, solid wood restroom doors, which currently lack the automated mechanisms required for ADA compliance. These doors present a daily challenge for patrons with mobility issues, often requiring assistance to open—undermining their independence, comfort, and dignity.

The need for improvement was identified through both staff observations and community feedback. Staff members have frequently needed to assist individuals navigating the doors, and patrons have voiced concerns about the difficulty of accessing the restrooms independently. Additionally, a prior consultation conducted during another accessibility project confirmed the non-compliance with ADA standards.

The importance of automated, regenerative door operators is well-documented in ADA guidelines, which emphasize the removal of physical barriers in public spaces. By addressing this challenge, the library will take a meaningful step toward equity and inclusivity, ensuring that all patrons—regardless of physical ability—can access restroom facilities safely and independently.

This project builds on the success of our previous LTC:A – funded quiet study room. The space has supported a wide range of community needs, from tutoring individuals with learning disabilities to hosting private telehealth appointments. These outcomes demonstrate the lasting value of responsive, inclusive improvements—and underscore the impact of continued investment in accessibility.

Our ADA restroom project represents the next chapter in our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming and equitable environment for all.