How to Complain About a Non ADA Compliant Building?

In 2018, there was an unprecedented 177% rise in filed claims for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The number of cases is worrying considering it has been three decades since the enactment of the law. In comparison to the inconvenience that such violations can cause on the lives of persons with disabilities, submitting reports is surprisingly easy.

The ADA is an acknowledgement that “all men are created equal.” No one should be discriminated upon based on race, sex, and presence of disability. The law protects the civil rights of people with disabilities by the setting of standards that almost all public accommodations are required to obey. Physical barriers are not allowed if they act as a deterrent to the enjoyment of goods and services. A person with a disability who is qualified for a job has the right to gainful employment at a company of his or her choosing.

While the ADA is a law that continues to be enforced, it relies a lot on feedback. While businesses are expected to comply with the ADA, they can perform regular operations without any formal ADA certification at all. It sounds contradicting but this is why it is important for individuals to take an active part in implementing it.

If you have a disability, you can even file your complaints anonymously. There are four possible ways you can do this. The first, and possibly the most convenient, is by simply logging on to the ADA.GOV website under the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division. On this site, there is a blue box that says “File ADA complaint.” The instructions on the following page are pretty self-explanatory. The same page will inform you that you can also mail or fax your complaint in printed form to the DOJ. An alternate way to submit a report, however, is by contacting the office of the Assistant Attorney General by phone. In all, you will only have to reveal the basic details surrounding the violation. Although the form has spaces for your personal information, they can still be left blank if you wish to keep your privacy.

While sending a claim is comparatively stress-free, the response from the DOJ can take weeks or months to get back to you. This option should only be taken as a last resort if you have already taken the civil approach of raising the matter to the proprietor of an establishment. Owners of facilities would likely also appreciate this kind of feedback which will also be to their advantage. You are voicing your concern because of the desire to enjoy the goods or services that they offer. And businesses would most probably also want to keep their customers happy. But if all else fails and entities miss the mark in their due diligence, it becomes the responsibility of a concerned individual to forward the matter to authorities.

If you own a business or a facility that is covered by the ADA, you need to make sure that you are complying with the regulations. Follow this link to know more about checking for your ADA compliance: https://adacompliancepros.com/hire-a-casp/