Guide To Build Your Office Accessible

One in five Americans, 64 million, have a disability. According to the American Institutes for Research, 35% are working-age or 22,000,000 people.

Accessible offices are welcoming and accommodating to clients and employees. You may be required to provide accommodations for employees and clients as a property or business owner.

Employers who implement accessible offices have been proven to reap the benefits. For example, the Job Accommodation Network data showed that employers reported offering accommodations that helped retain valuable employees, improve productivity and morale, and reduce workers' compensations and training costs.

Checklist to Make Your Office Accessible

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 to stop discrimination against persons with disabilities when they are seeking employment or access to public facilities and accommodation. Business owners should consult their state and local governments to ensure their office space complies with this law.

To ensure that all offices are ADA-compliant, the Office of Compliance provides a checklist for business owners. Access JAN's Workplace Accommodation Toolkit is also available to business owners. This guides how to improve accessibility in workspaces. It is always a good idea to seek the advice of an expert regarding your workspace.

The following are key considerations to make your office accessible for people with disabilities:

• Doors and entrances that are large enough to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility aids.

• Carpet pile is a low-slung flooring material that can be easily adapted for wheelchairs.

• Furniture that is wheelchair accessible or easy to use or height adjustable.

• Elevators for buildings

• Handicap-accessible bathrooms.

• Considerations such as automatic doors and gender-neutral bathrooms.

Doors And Other Entries

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, ambulatory disabilities (difficulty climbing stairs or walking) are the most common among U.S. workers.

To allow a person in a wheelchair or motorized vehicle to enter a doorway, it must be at least 32 inches across. If there are two doors, the total width of the entryway must not exceed 32 inches. Doors must be easy to open with a push. ADA-compliant doors can open automatically or require less than five pounds of force. There are requirements regarding the location and height of operable buttons for automatic doors.

A ramp will be installed if steps are leading to the building's entrance. This will allow employees and visitors with disabilities to use the ramp. The slope of the ramp will depend on the location of the entrance. However, it is obvious that if the ramp is too steep for a person to climb, they will find it difficult to use a wheelchair to navigate it.

Hallways, Lobbies, And Other Open Areas

To allow people with disabilities to move around in wheelchairs, the carpet pile should not exceed 1/2 inch if your floors are covered. People in wheelchairs will be able to move more easily if you keep your area open and not overcrowded. It is important to keep walkways clear so people with vision impairments can easily navigate.

For wheelchair accessibility, wall-mounted objects such as shelving, lighting fixtures, or water fountains should not extend beyond four inches from the wall. Protruding objects must also be easily spotted by people with vision impairments using a cane or walking stick.

Furniture

You should ensure that there is enough space for someone to use a wheelchair when arranging furniture in your waiting room. For someone in a wheelchair, the table should be at least 27 inches tall in conference rooms or other public spaces.

There are common-sense ways to make office furniture accessible, aside from complying with the ADA. For example, a reception area should have a low enough information desk that a person with a disability can see the person behind it. Armless chairs and couches are also great options for visitors and employees of all sizes.

Consider ergonomic furniture such as work desks. These can be customized to fit the needs of each individual or adjust to their height.

Elevator Access

An elevator may be available in your office is spread over multiple floors. However, not all elevators are created equal. Elevators for tall buildings are more likely to be used frequently and have higher passenger capacities. Older buildings might have elevators intended for occasional use. If the elevator is intended for occasional use, make sure signage is clearly posted stating that it is restricted access. To ensure that someone can safely enter the elevator, you should note how long it takes to close.

Restrooms

The ADA-compliant standard for restrooms must have accessible entryways and require less force than five pounds to open. Grab bars should be placed behind and to one side of each toilet stall. They must be between 33-36 inches and above the floor. Sinks should also be accessible.

Individual Or Additional Accommodations

There may be situations where you have to accommodate employees according to their individual needs. For example, you should consider enlarged keyboards, screen readers or closed captioning capabilities, voice recognition programs, and braille signage throughout your building.

Accessibility For All

Accessibility requirements do not have to be restricted to persons with mobility or disabilities. However, it's important to consider transgender people when making your office accessible to everyone.

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Every person is not the same gender. Gender-neutral bathrooms are comfortable for all employees and clients of your office. A single-room bathroom can be outfitted with a gender-neutral sign, or you could plan to add full doors to accommodate a row of toilets.

Business owners will need to be careful about making changes and upgrading office spaces. To be more inclusive of your clients and employees, you must review all applicable laws and regulations.