How To Make Sure Your Small Business Is ADA Compliant

Is You Small Business Accessible To People With Disabilities?

As many as one in five adults in the United States lives with a disability, which means that accommodation for people with disabilities is essential for your business, even if you do not have a brick and mortar location. Regulations to serve the disabled population were established in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in 1990. Not only does following these regulations make your business more accessible for people, but your company could face fines and other legal trouble if it’s not compliant with the ADA.

So how can you make sure your small business is ADA compliant? Check out these tips from your Avondale business attorney, and don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule a comprehensive examination of your business to ensure compliance.

Business attorney in AZ

Understanding ADA Compliance For Your Arizona Small Business

The ADA prohibits discrimination against people who have disabilities in multiple areas, including employment, transportation, communications, public accommodations, and commercial facilities. Small business compliance typically involves Title I and Title III of the ADA. Title I of this law covers employment regulations for employers who have 15 or more employees, while Title I is applicable to businesses that provide goods and services.

Generally speaking, ADA compliance simply means that your business makes “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities. This can encompass two general groups of people: employees and customers. Your Chandler business attorney can provide guidance on how to best comply with ADA requirements at your small business.

For employees with disabilities, ADA compliance at your Arizona small business includes:

Writing policies regarding job accommodations and performance expectations for individuals with disabilities
Writing policies regarding disability-related leave of absence from work

For customers with disabilities, ADA compliance at your Arizona small business includes:

Allowing service animals
Allowing mobility devices
Making small adjustments to standard procedures
Adjusting communication with customers
Removing physical barriers when achievable without significant difficulty or expense

ADA Compliance Is Unique To Each Business

Ultimately, ADA compliance at your Arizona small business will be unique to your business. There is no simple, one-size-fits-all solution to ensuring that you are ADA compliant, because what may be achievable for one company may not work well for another.

Your Gilbert business attorney will advise you to consider what it may be like for a customer with a disability to interact with your employees or visit your business. This can encompass a wide range of areas. For example, if your business is primarily online, you’ll want to make sure your website is accessible to people who have impairments with hearing or vision. If your store is primarily based in a brick and mortar location, a handicapped accessible ramp and bathrooms may be essential.

For more information on how to become ADA compliant, talk with your Avondale business attorney for advice. You can also refer to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Primer for Small Business, which provides resources to promote ADA compliance. As you develop a plan for ADA compliance, you may want to consider an audit or hiring an expert for a business inspection. This can provide peace of mind, minimize risk of an ADA-related lawsuit, the potential for reduced penalties if you are sued, and could even give increased protection against slip-and-fall lawsuits.

ADA compliance is not just the right thing to do and an important legal requirement, but it’s also good for your business. If at least 20% of the population lives with a disability, ensuring accessibility has the potential to increase the number of people who will frequent your business. Talk with your attorney and tax professional about tax credits and deductions that may be available for expenses related to ADA compliance.

Frequently Overlooked Areas Of ADA Compliance

When it comes to ADA compliance, most people think about parking spaces, wheelchair ramps, or larger bathrooms, there are other areas to consider that could result in legal trouble. Some specific areas of ADA compliance that can be overlooked include:

Website accessibility: Utilize captioned videos and images. Presentations, forms, and web text should be available as PDFs that can be accessed by individuals who use assistive technology devices.
Building access: Avoid steep slopes. Install ramps, grab bars, and signs that point to accessible doors; prepare clearance space for wheelchairs.
Bathrooms: Install adequate signage, have at least one stall that is large enough to accommodate a wheelchair, install grab bars. Mirrors, sink, toilet, and hand dryer should be installed at appropriate heights.
Appliances: Should be installed at an appropriate height.

Get Help With ADA Compliance From Arizona’s Leading Business Attorney Firm

Protect your business and ensure legal compliance by making your business and website accessible for people with disabilities. If you’re looking for guidance on how to ensure ADA compliance and protect your business from liability, schedule your appointment with the trusted attorneys at Denton Peterson Dunn. As the leading business attorneys in Arizona, we have the experience and knowledge you need to ensure ADA compliance and an accessible business for everyone. Contact us today!

Brad Denton, Business Lawyer
Brad Denton – Denton Peterson Dunn