The Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990. Californians should know that this legislation changed the way the country operates in treating people with disabilities. For example, before the ADA, buses, and trains weren’t required to be accessible. That meant that people often had to give up their wheelchairs in order to board public transit. In effect, disabled people were shut out of public life in many ways until the ADA offered more protections.
Accessibility matters
The ADA has made it possible for people who have disabilities to fully participate in public life. Sometimes, however, businesses that are acting in good faith are targeted under ADA compliance law. People might file lawsuits disputing the accessibility of parking lots, ADA aspects of a business website, or ADA violations of physical aspects of buildings. Luckily, there are law firms that help well-meaning entities avoid costly penalties.
Under the ADA, facilities didn’t have to become accessible overnight. That would have been both impractical and impossible. Generally, when public spaces renovate, they are required to bring themselves up to code. For example, Mackay Stadium in Nevada included ADA guidelines as part of a larger renovation. This is what many sports facilities do when it comes to ADA compliance law.
Protecting businesses
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a piece of legislation that has big impacts. It’s also full of details that non-specialists could easily misunderstand. A business owner may want to consult a lawyer with experience in ADA compliance if they have any questions about the ADA. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to violations of the law that impact a business’s customers and clients.
