Los Angeles Casp Services & Ada Compliance

The costs of non-compliance are very high. The average amount of settlement in each instance was the sum of $1 million dollars in the year 2010 alone. In addition to that, there were over 1,000 cases brought against small companies last year in the year alone. And those numbers don't include the thousands of other small lawsuits settled out of the court.

Fines can range from $2,500-$25,000 per day for violations. The fines can be hefty if violations are committed during construction projects.

Yes, there are several advantages of an accessibility check. Under a CASp inspection, you are considered a “qualified defendant.” As a "qualified defendant," statutory damages can be reduced to a minimum of $1000 if you correct violations within 60 days, and a 120-day grace period may apply if your violations are brought into compliance during that time.

Without a CASp inspection, statutory damages of $4,000 under the Unruh Act (Civil Code §52(a)) may be applicable for each instance of a violation. Also, you may have to pay for the plaintiff's attorney fees in addition to these statutory charges.

Construction-related accessibility standards relate to how old your facility is and the date when you did renovation(s).

California businesses that own facilities open to the public built or renovated before January 26, 1992, have to remove barriers to persons with disabilities, provided it is possible to do this. A CASp will tell you when this is possible.

California businesses that own facilities open to the public built or renovated before January 26, 1992, and March 14, 2012, must be in compliance with the 1991 ADA Standards (1991 ADAS).

California businesses that own facilities open to the public and commercial facilities built or renovated on or after March 15, 2012, must be built in compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards (2010 ADAS).

All Los Angeles California businesses that own facilities that are open to the public or commercial facilities are required to be in ADA compliance in the State of California.

To learn more about these requirements, call us now!

Complying with accessibility standards ensures that your facility is safe and comfortable for all those who use it. For instance, if there's no ramp for wheelchairs that leads up to the front door, people using a wheelchair may find it difficult to find a place to park their wheelchair that is close to the front door. Also, if there isn't enough space between counters, customers in wheelchairs might find it difficult to approach these counters.

Additionally, when you comply with federal guidelines for accessible design, you're liable for lower statutory damages, get a 90-day stay of court proceedings, and are entitled to an early evaluation of renovation(s).

If you'd like to know more about the benefits of complying with the accessibility requirements, please contact us today!

The following aspects should be considered when determining whether your organization is in ADA compliance.

Physical Access- Does your establishment allow customers with mobility impairments easy access to restrooms, entries, exits, elevators, ramps, parking spaces, etc.? Many businesses have yet to provide handrails on stairways. Are there signs that indicate which areas can be accessed by wheelchairs?

Communications Access - Can those with hearing loss understand announcements made through speakers? What size font is used in posters, menus, and advertisements?

Program Access - Is it possible for users of screen readers to browse through the website without having to worry about errors? What type of text is available to users? Is the content presented in color?

The accessibility standards must be met. ensures that your facility is safe and comfortable for all those who use it. For instance, if there's no ramp for wheelchairs that leads up to the front door, people using a wheelchair may need to park further away from other drivers. This can pose safety issues because he might get stuck behind cars waiting to be allowed into the parking lot. Also, if there isn't enough space between counters and tables which customers are seated at, customers might feel uncomfortable in a position that is too close to their neighbors.

Additionally, those with disabilities can use public transportation more easily by knowing exactly where the nearest station is. Furthermore, many businesses fail due to a accessibility issues. The ADA mandates that all places of public accommodations provide services to anyone regardless of disability. If these facilities don't meet the accessibility requirements, then they're violating the law.

If you'd like to know more about the benefits of complying with the accessibility requirements, please contact us today!

If you own or operate an enterprise, you're required to be compliant with the ADA. In leased places of public accommodations and commercial properties, both the landlord and the tenant are responsible for ensuring ADA compliance.

Also, under California law, the commercial property owner or landlord is required to state on every rental agreement or lease form executed on or after January 1, 2017, whether or not their premises have been inspected by a CASp.

Our CASp can assist in specifying within the terms of the lease who is responsible for which areas of the facility.

You don't want to be penalized by the U.S. Department of Justice because you didn't meet the standards set by Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Follow these tips to avoid such a situation:

1. Make sure that your building is compliant with ADA access norms as described above.

2. Verify that your communication tools are compatible with the needs of people who suffer from various types of visual impairments. If, for example, you make use of Braille signage, make sure that the information that is provided by these devices can be easily understood.

3. Consider providing assistive listening devices so that patrons who are deaf can converse with the staff.

4. Give clear instructions on how to contact your customer support representatives. These instructions must cover phone numbers, email addresses, fax numbers, and so on.

5. Be aware of the many ways that people with vision difficulties use technology. Improve access by providing computer terminals and other technologies that can be used by people with such visual impairments.

To be considered "compliant," a facility must allow equal access to individuals with disabilities in public accommodations. In addition, a public accommodation must also be designed and constructed in accordance with applicable standards and building codes. As we mentioned before, DSA services help businesses become ADA certified and achieve ADA standards that ensure disabled people have full access to public facilities.

Here are a few examples of what might not be ADA-compliant:

• Restaurants that require their guests to access the restaurant through a back entrance.

• A lift that can go up one floor at a time.

• A hotel room without bathrooms that can be fully accessed by wheelchair users.