Small Business

Small Businesses

Small businesses often face additional challenges when working to become ADA compliant. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to make reasonable accommodations for those with recognized disabilities. Although the ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations in both the private and public sectors, Title I and Title III of the ADA are the ones most applicable to small private business owners.

In addition, according to the IRS, an eligible small business is one that earned $1 million or less or had no more than 30 full-time employees in the previous year; they may take the credit each and every year they incur access expenditures. Refer to Disabled Access Credit for information about eligible expenditures.

Songow encourages small businesses to research and understands ADA compliance which is business-specific, the Everyday Challenges people with disabilities face, and the Benefits of creating a disability-friendly workplace.

Lack of access into the building

• A slope that’s too steep.
• Lack of a ramp and/or grab bar
• Lack of clearance space for wheel chairs
• Lack of signs to accessible doors

Bathrooms

• Lack of adequate signage
• Stalls with not enough space for a wheelchair
• Grab bars that are non-existent or out of compliance
• Mirrors that are too high
• A sink, toilet or dryer that is too high

Doors as barriers

• Five pounds of pressure or too much of a lip
• Lack of space to navigate wheel chairs
• Lack of access within the building
• Surfaces or appliances that are too high