4 Ways to Make Your Business More Accessible

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Improving accessibility means adapting your premises to accommodate people with different physical needs. Allow customers to visit you with ease by making your business more accessible.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Disability rights are civil rights. From voting to parking, the ADA is a law that protects people with disabilities in many areas of public life.

The ADA recommends that all businesses ensure they are inclusive for people of all abilities and assistance levels. These guidelines are determined by the type of business you run. Many factors must be considered when determining these guidelines, including your location, company, and building size.

This post will examine some changes you can make to make it easier for people to navigate your location and access your business. These ideas can be applied to an office, retail unit, restaurant, and more.

Table of Contents

Wider Doors

Wider doors offer a simple yet impactful change. They allow people using walking aids and wheelchairs to enter the building easily and without restriction.

Automatic doors that open when people come close can be beneficial. Push buttons located at a lower height will also open doors without having to push or pull using handles. This avoids needing someone to grant access.

These changes can significantly enhance the accessibility of your business, making it a more welcoming place for all. If you have accessible doors or entrances that are wider and more suited to people with disabilities, then this is great. With that said, regular maintenance is key. You can look into commercial door repair if you need help.

Accessible Handrails

Handrails on steps, stairs, ramps, etc. can facilitate easier movement and access. They are helpful for those who need additional support when moving in different levels, inclines, or using steps.

You can place handrails alongside walls on pathways. They can also be installed along stairs and inside your building. This setup will assist people in moving around and reaching their destinations.

For added impact, an led handrail can provide support as a walking aid. It also delivers light to dimly lit spaces. This helps people see more easily in the dark.

woman wearing red crew neck dress near gray wall 4 Ways to Make Your Business More Accessible

Disabled Parking

If you have a parking lot, dedicate disability parking spaces near the front entrance. Wider spaces allow for easier access for loading vehicles. This provides customers independence without having to request assistance from employees or the public.

Make spaces at least 8 feet wide. Provide “access channels” on either side of the parking space for loading. And offer zero-entry dropped curbs for improved access to the building.

Remove Clutter

Having clear, open walkways and easy-to-maneuver spaces within your business is important. This can help people who need more space to maneuver.

Having to move obstacles and navigate clutter is off-putting for any customer. But with canes, guide dogs, wheelchairs, ect, it can be a huge deterrent.

Observe how people move around your business. Map where they go and address anything that impacts the flow of traffic. Don’t make things harder than they need to be.

There are so many changes you can make to your business to make it more accessible. These are just a few you should focus on to get started.

If you have important equipment or business assets you don’t want to throw out, look into shipping containers for sale. This will provide you with a safe and secure location to store all your business items that are not necessary to keep in your office or business location.

people having a meeting at the 4 Ways to Make Your Business More Accessible

Striping, Access Aisles & Signage

To move from “good intention” to compliant practice, verify the nuts and bolts: the count of accessible bays (e.g., 1 for 1–25 total spaces, with at least one van-accessible for every six accessible spaces), correct widths and aisles (cars: 96-inch space + 60-inch aisle; vans: either 132-inch space + 60-inch aisle or 96-inch space + 96-inch aisle), and a slope no steeper than 1:48 across both spaces and aisles. Keep aisles tied to an accessible route (no ramps projecting into the aisle), and mount the ISA signs so the bottom edge is at least 60 inches above grade for visibility.

Quick win: position these bays on the shortest accessible route to your primary entrance and re-check counts whenever you re-stripe. That way you’re continually upholding ADA Compliance in Parking Lots while improving access and reducing risk.