Building Information 

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Capitol Services and Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities

Most visitors to the Capitol come to tour the building, observe the legislature, or participate in the legislative process by meeting with legislators, testifying before legislative committees, etc.

The goal of the Capitol's building and legislative staff is to ensure that every citizen visiting their Capitol is treated with respect. Everyone should be able to enjoy a tour, observe the legislature, and participate in the legislative process.

The purpose of this section is to advise persons with disabilities of the services and accommodations available at their Capitol.

Emergency Procedures

The Capitol is virtually a stone and brick mountain. It is generally a very safe place to be in the case of an emergency. Nonetheless, as part of the Capitol's recent restoration, modern life safety systems were installed. The building is completely equipped with fire sprinklers, and over 5,000 sensors monitor air ducts, motors, and sprinkler lines. The system is designed to notify emergency personnel immediately so they can react swiftly. At the same time, alarms were installed to alert the Capitol's visitors and staff to an emergency situation. These alarms feature both auditory (a voiced alarm) and visual (flashing lights) components. The building also has two interior, enclosed fire stairs located right off the rotunda in the east and west wings. The first and ground floors each have four exterior exits.

If an alarm is activated, exit by the closest, safest stairs. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS. The fire stairs are pressurized to keep smoke and fire out. Wheelchair users and other persons with mobility disabilities should proceed to the landings in the fire stairs, where they will be assisted by emergency personnel, if necessary.

Sergeants-At-Arms of the Senate and House, along with building staff, have been assigned sections of the Capitol, and will go through the building to ensure that everyone is aware of the emergency and has either vacated the building or gone to the tornado shelter or fire stair landings, depending on the situation.

Persons With Mobility Disabilities Parking

Weekdays:

There are parking spaces for persons with mobility disabilities north of the Capitol. The entrance is off Ottawa Street. The spaces are designated with the international mobility disability symbol.

One of the spaces will accommodate a van.

All vehicles using the mobility disability parking spaces must have a disability license plate or display a mobility disability permit issued by the Secretary of State.

Weekends:

On weekends, the parking lot directly west of the Capitol is open for public parking. Individuals with mobility disabilities are welcome to use this parking lot. The entrance to the lot is off Allegan Street. The mobility disability parking spaces north of the Capitol may also be used on weekends.

Entrance Door Access

The north annex entrance door adjacent to the mobility disability parking spaces and all ground floor entrance doors except the west outer vestibule door at the south entrance are mobility disability accessible.

At least one outer and one inner vestibule door on each side of the Capitol, as well as the North annex entrance adjacent to the mobility disability parking spaces, also have an automatic door opener which can be activated by pushing a plate. The plates are marked with the mobility disability symbol.

Restrooms

Public restrooms are located on the ground floor, third floor and fourth floor of the Capitol. All public restrooms are accessible to persons with mobility disabilities.

Assisted Hearing Systems

The following rooms are equipped with assisted hearing systems:

    Senate Chamber

    House of Representatives Chamber

    Senate Appropriations Room

    House Appropriations Room

Upon entering the Senate or House Gallery, persons with hearing disabilities who can be accommodated by an audio enhancement device should inform the Sergeant-at-Arms. Likewise upon entering the Appropriations Rooms ask the committee clerk for an audio enhancement device. See Tours of the Capitol for Capitol Tour Services assisted hearing systems.

Telephone Volume Control

There are four public telephones on the ground floor east wing. Two more public telephones are found on the fourth floor, one in the east hall and one in the west hall, next to the rotunda.

One of the phones on the ground floor is equipped with a volume control, as is the fourth floor phone in the east hall. Both phones are marked with the volume control symbol.

TDD/TTY Phone

A TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or TTY (Text Telephone) is available in the Capitol. The phone is located on the ground floor. Ask at the Information Desk for assistance. Calls other than local ones must be charged to a credit card or be made "collect."

Michigan Relay Center

The Michigan Relay Center, operated by Ameritech, enables persons with deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech impairment disabilities to communicate with virtually anyone within the state.

Hearing persons or non-TDD/TTY users can also use the Center to communicate with a TDD/TTY user. Your communication will be relayed by the Center to the TDD/TTY user.

The Michigan Relay Center telephone number is 1-800-649-3777 (Voice and TDD/TTY).

Because the Center can't collect or return coins, calls from a public telephone in the Capitol must be made "collect," billed to a third number, or charged to a calling card.

Calling Legislators and Legislative Agencies

Individuals who use a TDD/TTY to communicate can contact legislators and legislative agencies in two ways:

• Call the Michigan Relay Center at 1-800-649-3777. The Center will relay your message to the legislator or legislative agency office.

• Call the legislative TDD/TTY line at 1-517-373-0543. Upon receipt, your message will be acknowledged and forwarded to the addressed legislator or legislative agency.

Tours of the Capitol

If you have a disability which might interfere with your enjoyment of the tour, please advise your Tour Guide right away. The Capitol Tour Service has a number of ways to adapt the tour to your needs.

For persons with hearing disability:

• A printed version of the tour script is available.
• An assisted hearing device is available.
• In addition, those who read lips should notify their Tour Guide at the start of the tour. Every effort will be made to make sure that the Tour Guide is positioned to make lip reading easier.
  

For persons with visual disability:

• A large print version of the tour script is available.
• A braille version of the tour script is available.
  

For persons with mobility disability:

• An elevator is available for wheelchair users or individuals who cannot climb or descend stairs during the tour.
• Individuals who find it difficult to walk or stand for long periods or have other mobility impairments should notify their Tour Guide so most of the tour information is given while the group is seated in the Orientation Room, the Senate and House galleries, and the Appropriations Rooms.
  

Booking Tours for Persons with Disabilities

Tours for groups of ten or more can be booked through the Capitol Tour Service office. If any members of your group are persons with disabilities, advise the Tour office at the time you book the tour. Tours can be booked through:

                Capitol Tour Service
                Capitol Building
                P.O. Box 30014
                Lansing, Michigan 48909-7514
                (517) 373-2353 Voice
                (517) 373-0543 TDD/TTY

Large Groups

As the seat of state government, the Capitol is the place citizens come to redress their grievances, demonstrate, and conduct rallies. Periodically, large groups of persons with disabilities visit the Capitol. The staff will do everything it can to accommodate such groups. If you are planning an event for a large number of persons with disabilities, we would strongly encourage you to confer with the Capitol staff early in your planning so any necessary arrangements can be made to transport participants to the Capitol, move people through the building, etc. Planning is always the key to a successful event and good planning ensures that all can participate. Contact:

                Kerry Chartkoff
                Executive Director
                Michigan Capitol Committee
                Legislative Council Facility Agency
                P.O. Box 30014
                Lansing, Michigan 48909-7514
                or call: (517) 373-5527