Is your business ADA compliant?
Owners and operators of brick-and-mortar businesses generally know at least a couple things as it relates to the Americans with Disabilities Act: the law mandates that your place of business be reasonably accessible to those with disabilities — but beyond that, it’s the right thing to do.
Let’s look first at what the ADA says your business needs to look like. Remember, this applies to newly constructed buildings as well as retrofitting already existing structures.
- No barriers. Any physical design element that makes it impossible for a disabled person to move about your business is a barrier. This could be a number of things — stairs, aisles that are too narrow and don’t allow space to maneuver, doorknobs difficult to grip and thus operate, restrooms too small or with doors inaccessible for wheelchairs and scooters, counters too high for those in wheelchairs to see over, et cetera.
- Make parking accessible. If your business has a parking lot, you’re required to provide handicapped parking spots close to the entrance to the building. Those spots must be wide enough for a vehicle as well as space on both sides to allow people who use wheelchairs or scooters to get them out of their vehicle. And you must provide a route from those parking spaces to the door without stairs or unsafe slopes.
The recommended primary focus is to make sure everyone can access your building. Tri-State Mobility’s line of ramps, porch lifts and stairlifts can be a great asset to bring your business into compliance, as well as broadening your customer base and helping you help people more easily accomplish their daily tasks. Our restroom designs and products offer ADA compliance with shower spaces as well.
For more on ADA design standards and a look at how the law is enforced, visit ADA.gov. If you find your business is not yet in compliance, don’t wait, but don’t fret — per its website, the ADA requires the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to businesses, government offices and individuals in getting up to code.
It’s important to remember that, while the spirit of the ADA is the same for all, depending on your business and what it does, there are different applications of it in a real-world setting. Familiarize yourself with the ADA link above to know what exactly you need to do and what you should do to keep your facility in compliance.
Also bear in mind that practical solutions are often on the table to help you make whatever changes are necessary. We at Tri-State Mobility are ready to help at any time, both with our products and our expertise!
The goal is to make your business accessible to everyone, which is mutually beneficial to everyone involved. Look at ADA compliance as a goal of growth and an opportunity to help your customers, rather than an obstacle to be dealt with, and you’ll be on the right track in no time.
Owners and operators of brick-and-mortar businesses generally know at least a couple things as it relates to the Americans with Disabilities Act: the law mandates that your place of business be reasonably accessible to those with disabilities — but beyond that, it’s the right thing to do.
Let’s look first at what the ADA says your business needs to look like. Remember, this applies to newly constructed buildings as well as retrofitting already existing structures.
- No barriers. Any physical design element that makes it impossible for a disabled person to move about your business is a barrier. This could be a number of things — stairs, aisles that are too narrow and don’t allow space to maneuver, doorknobs difficult to grip and thus operate, restrooms too small or with doors inaccessible for wheelchairs and scooters, counters too high for those in wheelchairs to see over, et cetera.
- Make parking accessible. If your business has a parking lot, you’re required to provide handicapped parking spots close to the entrance to the building. Those spots must be wide enough for a vehicle as well as space on both sides to allow people who use wheelchairs or scooters to get them out of their vehicle. And you must provide a route from those parking spaces to the door without stairs or unsafe slopes.
The recommended primary focus is to make sure everyone can access your building. Tri-State Mobility’s line of ramps, porch lifts and stairlifts can be a great asset to bring your business into compliance, as well as broadening your customer base and helping you help people more easily accomplish their daily tasks. Our restroom designs and products offer ADA compliance with shower spaces as well.
For more on ADA design standards and a look at how the law is enforced, visit ADA.gov. If you find your business is not yet in compliance, don’t wait, but don’t fret — per its website, the ADA requires the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to businesses, government offices and individuals in getting up to code.
It’s important to remember that, while the spirit of the ADA is the same for all, depending on your business and what it does, there are different applications of it in a real-world setting. Familiarize yourself with the ADA link above to know what exactly you need to do and what you should do to keep your facility in compliance.
Also bear in mind that practical solutions are often on the table to help you make whatever changes are necessary. We at Tri-State Mobility are ready to help at any time, both with our products and our expertise!
The goal is to make your business accessible to everyone, which is mutually beneficial to everyone involved. Look at ADA compliance as a goal of growth and an opportunity to help your customers, rather than an obstacle to be dealt with, and you’ll be on the right track in no time.