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The ADA regulations, which became law in 1990, prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities

by providing them with equal access to goods and services. ADA says public accommodations must be barrier-free,

meaning they must be accessible to those with disabilities. The Act requires that a facility have an accessible

entrance, allow for access to goods and services and have accessible restrooms.

The standards apply to ALL businesses, regardless of size and the number of employees.

The Act states: “All new construction and modifications must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

For existing facilities, barriers to services must be removed if readily achievable.

Public accommodations include facilities such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores,

retail stores, etc., as well as privately owned transportation systems.”

Any public building that was designed after January 26, 1993, must comply with ADA requirements for new buildings.

Why Comply With The ADA ?

It is the LAW! - Let's face it, it has been many, many years since the ADA became law, and courts are now

looking dimly on public entities which have not met the law's basic requirements. The ADA is a federal mandate

that carries heavy fines and penalties for noncompliance, not to mention the potential for expensive lawsuits.

pic of a wheelchair with large clock in it - text reads: Eighteen years and Counting"

Compliance is financial protection! - Just like driving a car without insurance, it only takes getting caught once

to realize it is much less expensive to comply on your own now than to pay fines and penalties for getting caught,

and then have to comply anyway! And compliance always costs more when you're under the gun, so give yourself

some financial protection: do it now!

You maintain control of the compliance process- Once you've completed a proper evaluation and have a defensible

ADA plan on file, you have given yourself control of the compliance process (and control of the costs).

But without a legitimate plan, a lawsuit or formal complaint could turn control of compliance (and your budget) to

the courts or an enforcing agency. So get the basics done now, and avoid the possibility of someone else dictating

how and where you spend your money!

You win in court- Lawsuits are a fact of life in our litigious society, and ADA lawsuits are no exception.

But documented compliance efforts along with the written evaluations and plans required by the ADA provide

your strongest defense in court. By being prepared, you can often remedy a complaint through mediation

or arbitration and avoid unpleasant and costly court experiences!

It's the right thing to do! - Most facilities are more than willing to accommodate the needs of all individuals

regardless of disability, but the ADA's confusing and ambiguous requirements make it difficult to understand

exactly what is required, so most districts take a wait-and-see approach and handle problems as they arise.

Unfortunately, this approach means that those who are too embarrassed or unwilling to ask for accommodation

are often left out, unable to fully participate in programs, services and activities with others. So be proactive.

Do the right thing now!

Recommended Links for businesses and the ADA

> ADA Standards for Accessible Design <

Acrobat PDF format with formatted text and graphics, and links to figures,

graphics and cross-referenced sections.
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> http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm <

This is the ADA Home Page, with information for

businesses and the Disability Act and Standards

> http://www.dredf.org/technical_assistance/forward.shtml <