ADA Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. The State of Oregon, in compliance with the federal government, requires local governments to compel all types of organizations to work towards making their buildings and businesses more accessible to the disabled.
The State of Oregon has mandated that all new businesses, including business undergoing a change of ownership or existing businesses undertaking a substantial remodel project, be required to spend up to 25% of the cost of their remodeling project on improving ADA access to their facilities. Local governments (cities and counties) are required to enforce this through local permitting and building inspection processes.
The most common required upgrades with regard to ADA compliance are to restrooms. The most common restroom upgrades are as follow:
- Do you have grab bars installed? Do you have a vertical grab bar installed?
- Are restroom door handles knob-type or lever-type? (lever-type door handles are required for ADA compliance)
- Do you have an ADA-approved restroom sign on the wall next to the restroom door (with Braille at the bottom - see picture above)
- Do you have appropriate wheelchair clearance underneath your restroom sink?
- Do you have a privacy indicator installed (“occupied/vacant” sign) on the restroom door?
In addition to restrooms, ADA compliance upgrades are also common in parking areas. The most common parking upgrades are as follows:
- Do you have the appropriate number of ADA parking spaces for your parking area?
- Are all ADA parking spaces clearly identified with correct signage?
- Is the signage installed correctly?
- Are there any barriers for the physically disabled in your parking area or at the entrance to your business?
