As California small business owners know, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is crucial. This federal act ensures that individuals with certain types of disabilities can function in public places. Businesses of all kinds have to comply with the ADA, but there are a few exceptions.
If you are a small business owner, you understand how important it is to ensure that you meet requirements. Failure to do so could result in certain financial penalties and expose you to the risk of a lawsuit. While the point of the ADA is to provide certain individuals with access to public places, it could be in your interests to learn more about potential exceptions and what they could mean for your organization.
Exceptions to the rules
Maybe you’ve heard stories about businesses and organizations that faced lawsuits and penalties for failing to meet the standards set by the ADA. The overall number of lawsuits over ADA compliance has been increasing over the last few years, and it is more important than ever to learn what you can do to protect your company.
It may come as a surprise to you to learn that there are exceptions to the ADA rules. There are also a few facts about ADA compliance that you may not yet know about. It is worthwhile to learn about these and find out if they apply to you in any way. They include the following:
- Churches are not required to follow ADA guidelines. However, it may be useful for religious buildings to accommodate the physical needs of those who may work there or attend services.
- Websites are a major part of life, and they also have to be ADA compliant. There are certain guidelines you have to follow to bring your website up to certain standards.
- Apartments do not have to have units that are specifically handicap accessible, but they have to allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable accommodations so they can get in and out.
Dealing with the accusation that your business is not ADA compliant or discriminates against disabled workers or customers can be devastating. This is a concern you would be wise to take seriously. The best way to deal with legal problems is to take steps to avoid as many potential future issues as possible.
If you have concerns about ADA compliance or want to know how to be sure you are following all the rules, you may want to start with a complete evaluation of your case. An experienced ADA defense attorney can help you understand how you can protect your small business.