Five Signs a Business is Violating the ADA for Blind Visitors (and What You Can Do)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protections against discrimination in various locations and circumstances for individuals with disabilities. Title III of the ADA specifically protects against discrimination in places of “public accommodation,” which essentially means any type of business that provides goods or services to the public. For example, places of public accommodation for ADA purposes include grocery stores, restaurants, bars, hotels, malls, theaters, hospitals, museums, schools, gyms, and more. To be clear, places of public accommodation include privately owned businesses that are open to the public.

Much too often, businesses are not in compliance with ADA requirements, especially when it comes to accessibility for blind and low-vision visitors and customers. It is important to know what constitutes an ADA violation, and what you can do about it. Our Palm Beach Gardens ADA violation attorney can explain in more detail, and we are here to speak with you today if you have questions or want to find out about filing an ADA claim.

What Qualifies as an ADA Violation? 

To have a strong understanding of circumstances in which a business might be violating the ADA for blind or low-vision visitors, it is important to understand what counts or qualifies as an ADA violation.

Generally speaking, in order to be in compliance with Title III of the ADA, businesses must do the following:

• Provide or make available auxiliary aids for communication with visitors who are blind, deaf, have low-vision, or related disabilities;
• Remove and prevent physical or architectural barriers to access whenever it is “readily achievable,” including adding ramps, having wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, and similar;
• Ensure that any new construction is “accessible” and meets the ADA’s standards for accessible design; and
• Make reasonable modifications to any business practices, policies, or procedures that could negatively affect a person with a disability.

Five Signs of an ADA Violation

The following are five common signs of a possible ADA violation affecting blind or low-vision customers at your local business:

• 1) Refusal to allow service animals inside;
• 2) Refusal to provide auxiliary aids or services;
• 3) Email communications that are not accessible with screen readers;
• 4) Charging for accessibility tools;
• 5) Absence of alternative text for images on the business’s website.

What Can You Do If You Have Been Impacted by an ADA Violation?

If you are blind or have low vision and have been impacted by a local Palm Beach Gardens business’s ADA violation, you can take action. In general, your options include the following, all of which our firm can assist with:

• Report the violation to the owner of the business;
• File a formal complaint with the US Department of Justice;
• File a lawsuit under Title III of the ADA within three years from the date of the violation.

Contact Our Palm Beach Gardens ADA Violation Lawyers for Assistance Today

If you are blind or have low vision, or if a family member has one of these recognized disabilities under the ADA, it is critical to know that local businesses must be accessible according to the requirements of the ADA. If you believe a local business has violated the ADA, whether in its physical location or through its website, you may be able to take legal action. Contact one of the experienced Palm Beach Gardens ADA violation attorneys at Sconzo Law Office for assistance.

Source:

ada.gov/law-and-regs/regulations/title-iii-regulations/