ADA compliance laws were established to help those with disabilities have access to public spaces. With over 12% of the U.S. population living with a disability, workplace accessibility is more important than ever before. While there are many standard ADA compliance laws that your business must abide by, there are also California state laws that you must consider.
Treat each employee as an individual
One common mindset that employers have is that workers with the same disability require the same workplace accommodations. You must treat each employee as an individual and assess their individual workplace needs. The ADA specifically addresses the need for businesses to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach when handling employees who have disabilities. Remember that each employee is unique and will require individual solutions that fit them and their needs.
Consider non-physical accommodations
When you first think about ADA accommodations, you may be considering things like wheelchair ramps and handicapped-accessible bathroom stalls. However, it’s important to note that not all ADA compliance requires some sort of physical change. Sometimes, a reasonable accommodation would be modifying an employee’s work schedule. When addressing accommodations for any employee, you should think about both their physical workplace needs and their non-physical needs. This helps to ensure that you can properly assist them in completing their job functions.
Always hire an ADA-compliant builder
When it comes to building a new office location, there are many tasks on your plate. It’s important that you don’t overlook ADA compliance issues. When hiring a builder, ADA laws should be one area of discussion taken into consideration for planning the design of your new building. Your builder should be experienced in ADA compliance on federal, state and local levels.
If you’re like most business owners, you don’t know where to start and what your legal obligations are in regards to ADA compliance. It’s always a good idea to contact an experienced ADA compliance lawyer to assist you in understanding what your legal requirements are and how you can work with employees to ensure workplace accessibility for all.