Let’s sit down and have a friendly chat about ADA compliance. To many, it can seem like a tangled web of standards and guidelines that seem nearly impossible to translate, much less keep up with. “How many parking spaces do you need?” “How many have to be van accessible?” “Am I or am I not ADA compliant?” These are all questions that take most property managers down a spiral of Google searches, leading to answers that may not even apply to them.
The Human Factor
While there are a lot of questions to consider, the most important question of all is this: how can you not only comply but genuinely make things easier and more accessible for your residents, guests, and clients? Behind every directive and specification is an actual human who will benefit from the attention to accommodations you make—someone whose day-to-day existence will be made exponentially easier when you take the time to give them the tools they need to navigate your property safely.
From a human standpoint we are dedicated to making sure the ADA compliance efforts you employ work well for the people they’re meant to help. This includes providing ample space for van parking and aisle access, as well as clearly marking areas and curb ramps to allow individuals to easily access their vehicles. We also reach beyond the legalities and into the practical aspects to ensure the accommodations you provide are right for your unique situation. Some properties may only need to consider the baseline ADA standards, while some—due to the demographics of their visitors/residents—may benefit from a more expanded offering of compliant spaces and features.
The Legal Factor
There’s a lot to contemplate and evaluate when it comes to assessing your properties, and if that doesn’t seem like enough on your plate, feel free to toss on the very real legal and financial ramifications of noncompliance. The 2010 ADA Guidelines are designed to assist all Americans with disabilities and their friends, families, and caregivers. Who do the guidelines apply to? Chances are, you’re on the list:
- Private employers with 15 or more employees
- Businesses operating for the benefit of the public
- All state and local government agencies
In addition to the 2010 ADA guidelines, each state and municipality has the option to assign requirements above and beyond the federal recommendations. The state of California has an especially robust set of add-on requirements, and it takes a keen attention to detail to make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. While ensuring your property is up to ADA standards may seem like a hassle, it is well worth the time and money. Fees for noncompliance are steep, sometimes just as much, if not more than the actual cost for the work to be performed. That doesn’t even include the legal fees that tend to coincide with those cases.
The Black Diamond Factor
All this information is a lot to take in, and it’s probably not doing much to set your mind at ease. But lest we begin to sound like we’re lecturing you from the backseat, allow us to share these three little words:
We’ve got this.
We have done hundreds of ADA projects and are very well versed in the ins and outs of ADA compliance requirements and how you can best meet them while still keeping your project on budget. We partner and work with several ADA compliance companies and are very familiar with translating their reports into reasonably priced proposals that encompass everything that is required to bring the exterior of your property, business, or homes to compliance.
This may have you wondering if your property has all it needs in place when it comes to ADA. Staying compliant is important to your business and important to the people who frequent your property. Give us a call, and we will be happy to assess your ADA needs and help map out a plan to ensure you keep compliant, now and for years to come.
