As you design your new store, you brainstorm the best ways to showcase your products and make your company unique. Don’t get so caught up in these ideas that you forget about your legal responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Make sure you address the following in your business plan and blueprints so that your business is welcoming to all and you can’t be sued.
Automated Doors
One major ADA requirement is that small businesses be wheelchair-accessible. Install automated Ellison doors New York so that your customers can get into your store without having to pull or hold open your doors. Don’t forget to label them as automatic so that people know how to approach them.
Ramps
If your store’s entrance is not at ground level, you must build ramps as well as stairs leading up to the front door. Make sure that you leave enough space for ramps in your parking lot, and if you don’t have enough room, skip the stairs. Parents with strollers as well as those in wheelchairs will thank you.
Handicap Parking Spaces
Handicap parking spaces are your responsibility only if you own your parking lot as well as your building. Depending on the size of your lot and business, reserve at least two spaces in the front row for those with disabilities. Use painted symbols on the asphalt as well as signs to remind customers that the spaces’ use is restricted, and patrol the parking lot regularly to make sure people comply with your rules.
As you work with an architect to figure out your business’s appearance, don’t forget to research your legal duty to comply with ADA standards. Pay attention to new laws in this area and whether your business is required to update its practices. Remember, it’s always better to be more inclusive than to save money.