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Eye on Accessibility
Iowa’s Division of Persons with Disabilities’ Web site lists a number of myths about the Americans with Disabilities Act, including this one:
Myth: The ADA is rigid and requires businesses to spend lots of money to make their existing facilities accessible.
Fact: The ADA is based on common sense. It recognizes that altering existing structures are more costly than making construction accessible. The law only requires that public accommodations (e.g. stores, banks, hotels, and restaurants) remove architectural barriers in existing facilities when it is “readily achievable” (i.e., it can be done “without much difficulty or expense.”) Inexpensive, easy steps to take include ramping one step; installing a bathroom grab bar; lowering a paper towel dispenser; rearranging furniture; installing offset hinges to widen a doorway; or painting new lines to create an accessible parking space.
For more information about ADA myths and facts, go to www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/pd
and click on “E-Workshop.”
