ADA Compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 to help prevent discrimination against those with disabilities. Part of preventing discrimination was ensuring that people with mobility issues have equal access to most buildings that are visited by or that rent to the public. Most hotels, apartment complexes, restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls, retailers and sports complexes must comply with the provisions of the ADA, and the law applies to virtually all public buildings as well.
Always Choose an Experienced Contractor
Whether you are retrofitting an existing building or planning a new one, you should always choose a contractor with experience in all of the regulations contained in the ADA. He should also be aware of any local codes that exceed the requirements of the ADA. Mistakes can be costly; there have been cases of property owners having to demolish and rebuild an access ramp because it was undersized by just a few inches or was too long to not provide a landing.