Reaching Out to Customers with Disabilities -- Lesson Four, Removing Barriers in Buildings That Are Not Being Remodeled, Renovated, or Altered.

Many older buildings have architectural features that are barriers for people who have disabilities. Some are obvious impediments such as curbs, steps, narrow doors, narrow aisles, and narrow check-out lanes. But there are many other, less obvious barriers.

Doorknobs and operating mechanisms that require tight grasping or pinching can be barriers for people who have limited manual dexterity.

Deep pile carpeting on floors or loose gravel on exterior walkways are barriers for people who use a wheelchair, scooter, or walker.

Most signs are useless for people who are blind.

Audible alarm systems are useless for people who are deaf.

Public telephones, drinking fountains, mirrors, and paper towel dispensers are often mounted too high, making them unusable by people who use wheelchairs or scooters.

Low-hanging tree branches, wall-mounted light fixtures that are mounted at head height and extend more than four inches from the wall, or other objects that overhang or protrude into a walkway can be a hazard for people who are blind or have low vision.

Within a building, movable elements such as furniture, equipment, or display racks can be barriers if their location blocks an aisle or hinders a person's ability to move around.

A common misconception about the ADA is that older buildings are not covered, they are "grandfathered." This is not true. Businesses that serve the public must remove barriers in existing facilities based on the following considerations.


Restaurant with step at entrance is not accessible to customers who use wheelchairs or scooters.	Restaurant after a ramp is installed, making the entrance accessible.

Removing barriers

Removing or correcting barriers can be simple and inexpensive in one facility, but difficult and costly in another. For this reason, the ADA sets out a flexible rule for removing barriers. Businesses must remove physical barriers in existing facilities to improve accessibility where it is "readily achievable" to do so. Barrier removal is considered "readily achievable" when it can be easily accomplished, without much difficulty or expense.

A man who is blind is leaving a real estate agency. A workman
is trimming a tree branch that hangs too low over the sidewalk.