Businesses Covered by the ADA

If your business provides goods or services to the general public, it is important to understand and comply with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Enacted to prevent discrimination, this federal civil rights law guarantees that individuals with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life.

Specifically, Title III mandates that "public accommodations"—which include a vast array of businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, movie theaters, private schools, doctors' offices, and day care centers—must provide equal access to their goods, services, and facilities, to the extent that it is readily achievable to do so .

What Compliance Looks Like

For physical locations, this often involves removing architectural barriers that prevent access for people with mobility impairments. This could mean installing ramps, widening doorways, ensuring accessible parking spaces, or adding grab bars in restrooms. The law requires these changes to be made when they are "readily achievable," meaning they can be easily accomplished without much difficulty or expense.

However, compliance also mandates effective communication with individuals who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities. This might involve providing auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters, Braille materials, or assistive listening devices upon request, to ensure that communication is as effective as it is for others.

The Rise of Digital Accessibility

In our increasingly digital world, the definition of "public accommodation" has evolved. Courts and the Department of Justice are increasingly interpreting the ADA to apply to the digital realm. This means websites and mobile applications are now widely considered extensions of physical businesses, or in some limited cases, public accommodations in their own right.

Consequently, businesses should ensure their digital presence is accessible to people using assistive technologies like screen readers or voice recognition software, to the greatest extent reasonably possible given their size, resources, and technology.