Any company that depends on the general public or for their benefit. Privately managed companies that currently have 15 or more employees. Non-profit and charitable organizations that have 15 or more employees or that operate for the benefit of the general public. The requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for existing facilities are a source of great confusion.
Periodically we meet with building owners or managers who believe that the ADA only applies to new construction or alterations; therefore, buildings that existed prior to the enactment of the ADA do not need to be accessible. However, the ADA requires the removal of accessibility barriers in older buildings, and it is critical to understand the precise circumstances in which such removal of barriers is needed for ADA compliance. Courts apply ADA accessibility requirements to the online domain, meaning that websites must comply with ADA standards Part of what makes compliance with Title III of the ADA so difficult is that the law doesn't specify what you need to do to make your website accessible. Consulting with an attorney who specializes in disability law is a must for businesses concerned about ADA compliance, but if you're looking for a place to start on your own, reading the ADA requirements is an important first step.
Under the ADA Code of Federal Regulations, as long as your facility falls into one of two categories, ADA compliance is required. Title III of the ADA requires that each owner, landlord or operator of a “place of public accommodation” provide equal access to users who meet ADA disability standards. If you follow these guidelines to at least level AA, ADA compliance shouldn't be a problem for your company. As you've probably already discovered, the answer is no, because it's not entirely clear how or even if the ADA rules will apply to any particular website.
When the ADA was created in 1990, websites were not widely used, so legislation did not address them. After the ADA became law in 1990, the DOJ created the first set of ADA Title III regulations, the 1991 Standards for Accessible Design (1991 Standards). Exemptions from ADA compliance may affect you in some way, so it's essential to know and understand them in the future. While compliance with the ADA website is a little subjective now, it's not too difficult to discern what is meant by “reasonable accessibility.” Your center (to the extent that it is necessary for such people to access it) would have to comply with the ADA.
