Everyone deserves to enter and shop at your business, so business owners need to consider making every effort to accommodate all shoppers, including those with mobility, vision and hearing challenges, and any other disability.
For starters, compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is mandatory. The federal law passed in 1990 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public and private places. This includes hiring practices and providing accommodations for all.
Your customers, regardless of whether they have a disability, will likely appreciate your efforts.
Business owners that express a commitment to accessibility and inclusion communicate that they value social and moral responsibility. This creates a positive shopping atmosphere that is apt to foster longstanding customer loyalty. In addition, you will increase business by opening your store to more people and increasing foot traffic.
There are many, important means of aligning your establishment with the ADA Act. One example is retailers following the requirement that they include at least one accessible entrance to their store for those with disabilities. Additional ADA compliant measures, among others, include providing wide, unblocked aisleways, accessible restrooms, signs that include brail and other tactile elements, and checkout and other counters that accommodate those with height and other challenges.
Allowing service animals to accompany shoppers is another element of the ADA Act. It is important to realize that the ADA Act extends to your online presence. For instance, online platforms under law have to include large-text options and text-to-speech functions.
Following the ADA Act can do more than please your customers. It can also greatly boost staff morale. Your employees will feel proud that their workplace accommodates everyone. Be sure to train your staff on the best ways to assist all shoppers so that they can be confident and at ease while helping those with disabilities. You may want to consider including employees in the process of making your establishment ADA compliant. Encouraging creativity will increase employee satisfaction and help retain and attract staff.
Do all stores follow the ADA Act? The answer is a definitive no; you may never have seen a sign with brail at a store, though an accessible restroom may be present. Other places lack any accommodation. Those business owners proceed at their own risk. By law, they could face fines of up to $75,000 for a first occurrence and up to $150,000 for repeat offenders.
In addition, non-compliance is a sign of disrespect. Ensuring that your store welcomes all shoppers brings high regard from consumers and the overall community, impaired or not. Business owners who brush the ADA Act aside could, conversely, be left with a reputation of being ignorant at best, if not uncaring, heartless and cruel. You could find your store on a “don’t shop here” list of establishments that are dismissive of accommodating those with disabilities.
ADA compliance goes far beyond meeting legal requirements. It is about developing your establishment as a place where all are welcome and that provides a cheerful atmosphere for your patrons, your staff and yourself.
