Are you compliant?? Read what www.ada.gov has to say..The Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act of 1990 was designed to make public buildings and businesses accessible for individuals with physical disabilities and prevent discrimination against the physically challenged. Although the guidelines were comprehensive, the law created many confusions when it came to ADA signage. Recent News: On July 15, 2016, Attorney General Loretta Lynch signed a Final Rule revising the ADA title II and III regulations to implement the requirements of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2016, and will take effect 60 days after publication, on October 11, 2016. Congress enacted the ADA Amendments Act to make a number of significant changes to the meaning and interpretation of the ADA definition of “disability” to ensure that the definition of disability would be broadly construed and applied without extensive analysis. It is very important that as a business owner, you understand and comply with the new regulations. 1. Interior and Exterior signage that identify permanent rooms and spaces. Examples include restrooms, floor numbers, room numbers or letters and room names. 2. Directional and informational signs relating to interior spaces and facilities. These could be signs giving directions to specific rooms or spaces. 3. Signs for means of egress. This includes exit signs, areas of refuge and directional signs when relating to exits. 4. Parking signs with the exception of lots with 4 or fewer spaces or residential parking. 5. A sign as it relates to indicating the nearest entrance. 6. Signs that clearly identify elevators. 7. Signs identifying the location of the nearest toilet or restrooms. 8. Directional or informational signs relating to telecommunications devices for the deaf or hard of hearing. 9. Informing patrons of assisted listening areas like at ticket windows. 10. At locations where more than one check-out isle is available. 11. Directional or informational signs when relating to amusement rides. To see current ADA Regulations: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_regulations.htm#a101 You might find the guidelines to be overwhelming and you might be wondering if they apply to you. It is important to note that most of these new guidelines apply to businesses that provide goods or services to the public (also known as public accommodations). These types of businesses would include restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers. Religious buildings and private clubs are exempt from the ADA guidelines. If your business does fall into the category of public accommodations, it is a good idea to look into the new ADA guidelines in closer detail. Some of the regulations may not apply, but if they do and you don’t make the necessary changes, there could be costly repercussions. The ADA states, “The Department of Justice may file lawsuits in federal court to enforce the ADA, and courts may order compensatory damages and back pay to remedy discrimination if the Department prevails. Under Title III, the Dept. of Justice may also obtain civil penalties of up to $55,000 for the first violation and $110,000 for any subsequent violation.”
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