ADA Self Evaluation & Transition Plans

• Entrances: Many ADA violations for retail facilities relate to not providing a ramp or some other kind of accessible entrance to the facility. If a retail business has two public entrances, in most cases, only one needs to be accessible.

• Parking Spaces: Parking spaces must be wide enough — at least 8 feet wide — to accommodate a wheel chair. Locate parking space and access aisle so they are relatively level. Even the smallest retail store is required to provide at least one accessible van parking spot, yet this remains a common ADA violation.

• Doors: These need to be wide enough — at least 36 inches — to accommodate a wheel chair. Having door hardware that doesn’t require a tight grip to open is also important to accommodate people with joint ailments, such as arthritis.

• Shelves and Maneuvering Space: When sales items are displayed or stored on shelves for viewing and selection by customers, a retailer must provide an accessible route to them if doing so is readily achievable. In general, a 36-inch-wide accessible route is needed with a slightly larger space provided at corners. If access cannot be provided to all sales areas, having staff available or other solutions to retrieve items must be provided.

• Sales and Service Counters: Customers with disabilities must be able to exchange money for goods and services, which requires sales and service counters to be accessible. There must also be clear floor space in front of the counters so that wheelchairs can pull alongside.

• Fully-Accessible Restroom: Facility managers understand that public bathroom renovations can be expensive but having at least one stall that a wheelchair-user can use is a must.

• Storage Areas: Clearing storage areas, including around trash bins, bicycle racks, under elevator buttons, around accessible toilet stalls, around doors and drinking fountains, is an often overlooked part of ongoing ADA compliance. Employees and maintenance staff must be trained on ADA compliance so they don’t accidentally leave a facility vulnerable for a violation.

• Accessible Evacuation Plans: If a retail facility has an evacuation plan for its customers and employees, facility managers should review it for specific protocols that will ensure equal access to safe egress by people who cannot vacate the premises independently.

Facility managers must keep in mind that anytime renovations are being made to a facility where barriers still exist, 20% of the construction costs must be spent on barrier removal on the path of travel. ADA enforcement often cites failure to construct new and renovated facilities to meet ADA standards. Facility managers shouldn’t assume that architects and contractors will take proactive steps to comply.

Taking Proactive Steps

Removing physical barriers that are readily achievable under ADA is an ongoing process. Retailers that find themselves behind the curve with the regulations would be wise to take some proactive steps toward compliance. To start, facility managers can perform a self-evaluation to begin to identify compliance gaps. If additional guidance is needed, retailers can tap the expertise of third-party ADA subject matter experts to develop a well-documented transition plan, which should include: identifying obstacles, describing the methods to make facilities accessible, specifying the schedule and cost for achieving completion, and identifying the person(s) responsible for the implementation of the plan. After two decades, it’s definitely time for retailers to become more acquainted with and okay with ADA.