These days even your website needs to be accessible or you could be sued!

Making provisions for those with disabilities is a must. It is important for your business to be ADA compliant. 

Americans with disabilities deserve to be able to have access to businesses and services just like anyone else. If you are a business owner, you may be wondering how you can improve the ADA compliance standards for your business.

These standards are not necessarily hard to carry out, but they require careful consideration.

Here is a closer look at what you need to do to get compliant. 

What Is ADA Compliance?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is federal legislation. It first came into effect in the 1990s. 

The ADA helps to protect the civil rights of disabled Americans and to ensure that they have access to public life such as government services, public transportation, public spaces, jobs, and schools. 

If your business has more than fifteen employees, you must comply with ADA regulations.

Look at Your Infrastructure

The infrastructure of your organization is something that you need to carefully look at to improve your ADA compliance. According to ADA standards, you need to make sure that you are adding ramps and other features to your building that will make it accessible to people who use wheelchairs. 

Adding a wheelchair ramp to a building is one of the most basic ways in which you can become ADA compliant. You can find out wheelchair ramp average cost here.

Check the ADA website and you will find advice about construction standards and measurements you need in order to meet legal requirements.

Educate Employees

One of the main things you need to do is educate your employees about ADA compliance. Many lawsuits are brought against businesses simply because employees were unaccommodating. 

If your business cannot make the building accessible to someone who is in a wheelchair, your employees should be willing and ready to offer assistance should such a situation arise. The only way to ensure that your employees understand what they need to do is to give them the proper training.

Be Compliant Online

Many cases that were brought before the ADA are about web accessibility. Making your business compliant is not just about getting the building compliant. It’s also about making sure that your website is accessible, especially if you run a restaurant and take orders online.

To avoid getting into problems, you can make closed captioning, and audio descriptions available on your website.

Understand ADA Compliance Standards

Understanding ADA compliance standards is essential if you want to make sure that your business is legally responsible. Making your business ADA compliant is not just about being on the right side of the law. 

It is also about being sensitive to the needs of your customers and clients who use wheelchairs and other disabilities that may make it difficult for them to access your place of business. By complying with the law you are supporting your customers and being a good business owner. 

If you would like more informative tips, please visit the business section of the website.

By Manali