Ultimately, the integrator partnered with Scholl and the EU team to devise a solution that allows Scholl to control her door via a completely custom application that can be readily accessed from the main screen menu on her phone and the desktop of her laptop. Scholl m
anipulates her phone – fastened to her motorized wheelchair by a metal arm at face level – through voice activation software and physically with her chin and nose. With this device, she is able to enter a passcode through the app in order to unlock or secure her door. Once activated, the app fires an electric strike that engages the accessible door operator, so that it opens automatically. The app, created by Stanley Security’s Software Solutions Group, uses the same interface on both Scholl’s laptop and phone, changing colors when the room is locked and unlocked, so that she’s able to know at a glance whether or not her room is secure.
Stanley also outfitted the door with a proximity reader that will register Scholl’s credentials from three feet away when approaching the inside of the door, so she only has to wheel up with her affixed card for the door to open automatically. In the event of an outage, Stanley included a wireless door operator at a level that was most convenient for Scholl – at her feet; without the use of her hands, Scholl cannot press automatic door operator switches often installed at the minimum ADA standard height of 28-32 inches. The component is movable, able to be adjusted for any future residents, whose needs might differ from Scholl’s.
For Stanley Security, it was a particularly eye-opening project.
“Working with Norah and EU has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my professional career,” says Kyle Gordon, director higher education for the integrator. “Norah wanted to be part of something that could help improve the lives of people like her, and hopefully in the process, would lead to the development of elevated standards for individuals with disabilities. She wanted to act as an ambassador, bringing awareness to students with disabilities and the common obstacles they face on a daily basis.”
Opening Door for 1st Time ‘Pretty Awesome’
Scholl was thrilled with the solution and its potential to improve not only her quality of life at the university, but those of others as well.
“Opening the door on my own for the first time was pretty awesome. Since then, it’s significantly and positively enabled me to be far more independent in my day-to-day activities and in my role as a graduate hall coordinator,” she says. “I hope solutions like this – customized to the needs of the individual – can be adopted by other universities across the country, and outside of campus environments, to be used in people’s homes, apartments and workplaces. I obviously think about my future, going out and into the work field – and the lack of accessibility is eventually something I, and so many others, may be up against. It’s great to know that there are supportive solutions available.”
For Edinboro, Stanley’s dedication to and enthusiasm for the project really set the organization apart – completing the design and installation in a short four months.
“At Edinboro, we are always going to go above and beyond for our students, and it’s great to have found Stanley as a partner who really understands that,” Miller says. “They really worked with us to find a solution that was cost-effective and could be implemented in a timely manner. They really put themselves in her position, learning how to experience life the way she does – and how well she accomplishes that – on campus.”
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Campus at a Glance
- Campus: Edinboro University (EU) in Edinboro, Pa.
- Number of Students: 7,100, including more than 500 students with physical and cognitive or learning disabilities, with 74 in wheelchairs
- Products Installed: Custom iPhone App & Web Interface, Sentrol 1045T-N Industrial Surface Mount Magnetic Contact, HID Global MaxiProx 5375 Proximity Reader, Belden 6304UE and 6302UE Multi-Conductor Plenum Wiring, PRECISION D4990 Low-Energy Operator, BEST B.A.S.I.S. 2210 Intelligent Single Door Controller, BEST ES5 Electric Strike, United Security Products HUB-2SA Momentary Hold Up Button, Lenel 4.0 A Power Supply with Enclosure
- Systems Integrator: Stanley Security
Mallory Pernai is a writer for the security industry.
