info@adateam.us
ADA Compliance Team, Inc. [ACT]
ADA Compliance Surveys & Accessibility Solutions
1.760.940.6106
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to transit, stores, restaurants, and other businesses. The act itself prevents anyone from being discriminated against on the basis of disability.
The ADA has set requirements for making properties and businesses accessible through construction guidelines. The ADA recommends reviewing your business policies to make sure your compliance is comprehensive. Most of the time, accommodation is fairly inexpensive. It's best to think ahead construction, incorporating accessibility features is typically less than 1 percent of construction costs, according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission.
ADA enforcement is a complaint driven process. Many business owners of California properties are surprised to learn that government officials do not make visits to businesses to see if they are ADA compliant. However, once someone has filed a formal complaint, various government agencies are responsible for conducting an investigation and taking legal action. ADA Compliance Team, Inc. [ACT] can provide you with the most up to date, cost effective methods to make your business comply with all Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
We understand the subtle as well as obvious nuances of:ADA, ADAAG, ABA, CBC, FHA, etc. These are the organizations that regulate all aspects of the ADA – both federally & throughout California. Typical ADA upgrades (or remediation) include but are not limited to:
Got counter service? That counter shouldn’t be more than 34 inches off the floor. Self-service restaurants need enough maneuvering space for a person in a wheelchair, with a minimum aisle of 36 inches wide. And for seating: if tables are fixed to the wall or floor, at least 5 percent need to be accessible by the use of movable chairs and a table no taller than 28 inches off the floor.
Many of these things can seem overwhelming. The easiest way to make sure your in compliance and safe from all lawsuits and penalties is to contanct a professional. ADA Compliance Team, Inc. [ACT] is always available to converse about any compliance situation you currently find yourself in.
We are experts on the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for design and construction of public facilities. We understand real life design and construction issues and provide strategies to address common issues encountered. ADA Compliance Team, Inc. [ACT] stays up to date with the latest ADA compliance standards and real life situations encountered by people with disabilities.The ADA contains a lot of commonly known provisions from providing ramps or elevators for wheelchair-bound employees, to really technical provisions such as minimum widths for doorways and the number of required accessible parking spaces. Complying with the act allows for tax breaks and deductions for your property or business, but penalties in ADA lawsuits can be expensive.
ADA Compliance Team are experts in making businesses and properties ADA compliant and we are here to assist you whether you are seeking compliance or are currently being sued.
In day-to-day life, handicapped parking spaces are the most common reminder of the effect the ADA has had. But do you know how many you need for your size business? Or how wide they should be?Every business with a public lot needs to have a few accessible spaces, based on how big the lot is. If you have 25 or fewer spaces, at least one should be accessible; two spaces are required for 50 or fewer spaces. If you have a large lot, at least one of every eight accessible spaces must be also be van accessible.The spaces should be the closest to the entrance, with an additional space on either side for an access aisle.
You’ll also need a sign with the international symbol of accessibility, located in front of the parking space mounted high enough so it won’t be blocked by a vehicle.Van-accessible spaces must have an access aisle at least 8 feet wide and designated with a “van accessible” sign. You’ll need to make sure the vertical clearance is at least 98 inches around the space.Even one step at the entrance can make your business a mountain of difficulty for someone using a cane or in a wheelchair. At least one entrance to your facility needs to be accessible, and you’ll need signs directing people there.
---ADA Compliance Team, Inc. [ACT] are experts in making businesses and properties ADA compliant and we are here to assist you whether you are seeking compliance or are currently being sued.
Your doorways should be 36 inches wide. Even with older, narrower doors, this clearance can sometimes be obtained by using special “swing clear” hinges or by enlarging door openings. And be aware that certain types of door handles can pose a challenge: stay away from panel-type handles that require the user to grip tightly, round door knobs, handles with a thumb latch, or turnstile entrances. Stick instead with loop-type handles, lever handles or open gates.Making sure your disabled customers can move about your business is just as important as making sure they can get inside it.
The standard for aisle space is 36-inches wide, with slightly larger space at the corners. If a 180-degree turn is needed to exit an area, a 60-inch wide turning space or 36-inch wide T-turn. If it is too difficult to meet the aisle requirements, make alternative access available, such as having staff able to retrieve items from a shelf. Items can be placed at any height so long as a staff member is available to assist customers.For checkout counters, a section of counter at least 36 inches long and 36 inches wide will provide access to people in wheelchairs.
If this isn’t possible, you can provide an auxiliary counter nearby, use a folding shelf or provide a clipboard or lapboard for use at checkout. Checkout aisles, such as the ones grocery stores use, have different standards. A checkout aisle should be at least 36 inches wide and identified with the international symbol of accessibility. The adjacent checkout counter should be no more than 38 inches tall. Like parking, the number of aisles needed depends on the size of your store. If four or fewer aisles are provided, at least one should be accessible. If between eight and five are provided, two are needed.
Businesses with at least 15 employees. Both landlord and tenant of the business. But the two parties can determine who is responsible for complying with the obligations through a lease or other contract.State and local government services, programs and activities, including public education and social services, state legislatures and courts, town meetings, police and fire departments, employment services, and public transportation. Commercial facilities, including privately owned businesses of all sizes such as stores and shops, restaurants and bars, theaters, hotels, recreation facilities, private museums, doctor's offices, health spas, convention centers and doctors' offices.
Any business that serves the public must remove physical barriers when "readily achievable," which means it can be done without much difficulty or expense. But the ADA is flexible: The "readily achievable" label depends on the size and resources of your business. Larger companies are expected to take a more active role than smaller ones. Compliance can be an ongoing process, so the ADA allows businesses to create a plan to remove barriers over time as resources become available
Nearly all types of private businesses that serve the public are included in the categories, regardless of size. Private businesses that provide goods or services to the public are called public accommodations according to the ADA.The ADA establishes requirements for 12 categories of public accommodations including:
Are you currently in an ADA Lawsuit? Were you unexpectedly served with an ADA lawsuit in San Diego County or Riverside County? While the ADA has protected countless disabled individuals from becoming the victims of discrimination, it has become the subject of litigation abuse in California.
Most of the businesses do not even know they are violating the ADA until they are summoned to appear in court.When a commercial facility is in violation of the ADA, it is almost always best to bring the subject property into compliance immediately. Showing documented compliance efforts, along with the written evaluations and plans required by the ADA, provide your strongest defense in court.
Simply complete the short form below. One of our courteous and knowledgeable staff will follow up with you to answer questions, confirm information, and possibly arrange your site survey.
