Carl Brahe
Things that most of us don’t notice can be barriers for people with disabilities. A small lip in the concrete can catch a cane or walker causing a fall, Stairs can seem like cliffs to those in wheelchairs. Since the Americans With Disabilities Act businesses of all kinds are required to provide a safe environment for those with limited movement. New construction and remodeling must accommodate people with disabilities to allow them to safely and comfortable navigate the businesses public areas on an even basis with able bodied people.
The rules mainly cover the ability to move into, out of and through a building without barriers and to use public facilities like restrooms. Access rules involve front entries that are easy to open, or have powered openers, with properly designed and constructed ramps. Even small trip hazards can be a large liability in the path of public thoroughfare. Some insurance companies defines a trip hazard as a change in height of sections of sidewalk as small as 1/2″. This is a trip hazard for able bodied people that is amplified for those who use walkers or canes.
Passageways need to be larger for uninhibited passage of wheelchairs. This is also true of restroom stalls where grasp rails are required. At least one urinal needs to be lower to allow for use from a wheelchair. These requirements are common sense to those who need them and easy to accommodate with proper planning. Existing businesses and publicly accessed building that are not compliant with ADA rules are not required to make changes to structure to comply,