You Went to a Medical Office and Couldn’t Get Help. That Might Be Illegal

Did you recently visit a doctor’s office, a medical spa, hospital, or another type of medical office but could not get the help you needed due to accessibility issues related to your blindness or low vision? That medical office might be in violation of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires places of public accommodation to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, including blindness and low vision. Medical offices are included in this category, and it may be illegal if a medical office is not equally accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Our South Florida ADA violation attorneys at Sconzo Law Office can explain in more detail below, and we can speak with you about your particular experience and your options.

Medical Offices Are Places of Public Accommodation

Title III of the ADA requires that places of “public accommodation” are accessible to blind individuals and those with low vision. The term “public accommodation” covers a very wide range of businesses, including any public or private businesses that provide services or goods to the public. Common examples include restaurants, grocery stores, malls, public transportation, theaters, attorneys’ offices, hospitals, and more. Medical offices are included within the classification of “public accommodation,” including stand-alone doctor’s offices, medical spas, hospitals, urgent care services, and more.

In addition to making the office accessible in other ways, medical offices also must allow service animals for individuals with blindness, low vision, and other disabilities recognized by the ADA. The US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division clarifies that places of public accommodation “must permit service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go.”

Common Blind Access Barriers in Medical Offices

What shape do ADA violations affecting blind individuals take in medical offices? The following are common blind access barriers in medical offices and facilities:

• Lack of signs with tactile information, including elevator signs, exit signs, and doorway signs;
• Required sign-in on an iPad touch screen with form boxes to fill in;
• No staff trained to assist patients who are blind or have low vision;
• Website accessibility issues, including the requirement to make a new appointment through a website fill-in form; and/or
• No-animal policy that includes service animals.

Contact a Palm Beach Gardens ADA Violation Attorneys for Assistance Today

Did you have difficulty obtaining the type of service you needed at a medical office due to accessibility issues? It is essential to discuss your experience with an attorney who regularly handles ADA violations in South Florida. The medical office you visited may actually be in violation of the ADA, and it may be possible to hold it accountable by filing a complaint. Most complaints concerning ADA violations at places of public accommodation are handled by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), and one of the experienced Palm Beach Gardens ADA violation lawyers at Sconzo Law Office can tell you more about the process for initiating a complaint. Once you are ready to file a complaint, we can assist you with this process. Contact our firm today for more information.

Source:

ada.gov