A Guide to ADA Compliance in Georgia

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Put in place to make discrimination against individuals with disabilities illegal, the five titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act provide guidance from the federal government to businesses wishing to achieve compliance. This guide contains important information for businesses in Georgia about obtaining and remaining ADA compliant.

What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act?

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President George W. Bush signed the ADA into law in 1990. The Department of Justice is ADA compliant and enforces this law, as does the Department of Transportation. The act sets forth the requirements of all businesses to remove barriers to accessibility under the following five titles:

Title I – Employment

Title II – Public Services

Title III – Public accommodations

Title IV – Telecommunications

Title V – Miscellaneous

Each section outlines how organizations under each title can ensure the equal access of individuals with disabilities. For example, Title III, Public Accommodations, details the technical requirements and design standards to be followed for facilities used by the public.

How to Achieve ADA Compliance in Georgia

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Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is required for the nearly 300,000 businesses located in the state of Georgia. In addition to these, private places of business, such as those that provide certification, warehouses, office buildings, and similar entities must also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA.

Compliance includes ensuring that the interiors of these spaces are accessible by disabled persons, as well as their walkways and parking lots. According to the ADA, a business owner must make financially reasonable accommodations for disabled persons. The act also outlines the requirements for the new constructions of buildings that will house these types of businesses.

Georgia ADA Compliance Resources

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The ADA covers the accessibility requirements of businesses under federal law. However, laws are also in place at the state and local levels that require certain standards to be met which go beyond those of the federal requirements of the ADA.

Although this list is not exhaustive, ADA Solutions has gathered a number of resources for Georgia business owners wanting to learn more about achieving and maintaining ADA compliance.

  • The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design contains the federal requirements for modifications to existing structures and new construction.
  • Guidance on the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design contains the revisions made to Titles II and III in 2010.
  • The U.S. Access Board is a leading provider of information regarding accessible design, and it develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment.
  • The Georgia Accessibility Code provides guidance for compliance with the Georgia ADA code in the form of technical bulletins
  • The Accessibility Code for Buildings and Facilities furthers Georgia State Accessibility Code by describing how to increase accessibility according to age, building and room type, and more.

Georgia ADA Compliance Frequently Asked Questions

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We at ADA Solutions believe that awareness is the key to helping business owners in Georgia increase accessibility by disabled persons. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about ADA compliance.

 

Q: Which businesses in Georgia have to be ADA compliant?

A: Federal law requires that all businesses having 15 or more employees, as well as all federal, state, county, and local government entities, be compliant with the ADA.

 

Q: Are there Georgia businesses that are exempt from the ADA?

A: Yes; entities historically exempt from the ADA, such as places of worship, do not have to comply with the ADA. Private clubs and religious organizations are also exempt. However, the aforementioned businesses do have to make reasonable accommodations for disabled persons, and the 2010 Standards must be followed for all new construction and alterations.

 

Q: Are parking lots required to be ADA compliant?

A: Yes; ADA standards apply to all places of public accommodation that provide parking to make accessible parking spaces available.

 

Q: What are the consequences of not complying with the ADA in Georgia?

A: Any business that is found to be non-compliant with the ADA can be fined up to $75,000 per violation and up to $150,000 for subsequent violations. They can also be charged by those with disabilities in class action lawsuits, which can incur court costs and additional penalties.

 

Q: What are Places of Public Accommodation?

A: Places of Public Accommodation are facilities that are used by the public. They can be private or public and include office buildings, movie theaters, retail stores, and restaurants. Other places of public accommodation include service centers, educational institutions, and recreational facilities.

How to Ensure ADA Compliance at Your Business

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The ADA requires all Georgia businesses to ensure that every customer has equal access to their premises, as well as their products and services. One way to accomplish this is via the installation of detectable warning surfaces, wayfinding systems, and graphic tiles.

ADA Solutions is a leading designer and manufacturer of cast-in-place and surface-applied raised dome warning surfaces, graphic tile systems, and the Glow Dome wayfinding system. We manufacture everything we sell in our own ISO-9002 facility, ensuring strict quality control.

We also offer the longest warranty in the industry: seven years. Look through our website to learn more.