Government offices, businesses and other places open to the public are required by the Americans with Disability Act to make sure disabled people have full an equal access to their property, goods and services.
California’s Disabled Access Laws protect the right of physically and mentally disabled individuals to obtain full and equal access to public accommodations, public transportation, telephone facilities, lodging and entertainment.
The Law requires that buildings remodeled after 1968 or built with state, county or municipal funds to be accessible to the disabled. Complaints that facilities are maintained in violation of state disabled access laws should be filed with the local building department which is required to reach a final resolution within 90 days of its filing. If violations are found, the building department will have to state how the public accommodation or facility must comply with California’s Disabled Access Laws. Also, places of public accommodation remodeled after July 1, 1970 or constructed with private funds must comply with accessibility standards.
All new public constructions must be made accessible.
Where California law sets a higher standard than the ADA for public transit facilities, then those higher standards must be met.
As an exception, private clubs and religious organizations do not have to make sure disabled persons have equal access to and full use of their property or services.
If the facility does not comply with the Disabled Access Law, there are many different changes that can be made to make a public area more accessible such as building a ramp; enlarging doorways and hallways; redesigning seats and parking spaces; having visual fire alarms; enlarging bathroom stalls and installing grab bars, etc.
The general rule is that businesses are required to remove any physical barrier that make it difficult for a disabled individual to access the property or enjoy its goods or services.
Nevertheless, if removing the barrier constitutes a high difficulty or costs an unreasonable amount of money, some alternative methods may be offered. Indeed if a business is not able to reconfigure the structure to make it accessible to all disabled individuals, the business can inform the public that its employees are willing to help and escort any customer in need.