ADA Regulation Checklists: How to Keep Your Clinic Compliant

When designing your clinic environment, you take into consideration the space you need for patient care, clerical work and other everyday tasks. However, depending on the types of patients you treat, you may be missing a key consideration: people with disabilities. Whether it be neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular or any other type of disability, your space must have all the necessary accommodations to give these populations the same opportunities as able body/minded individuals. Not only is this an important way to show your clientele that you care about inclusivity, but it’s a regulated law for all public spaces.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990, prohibiting the discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public.1 18 years later, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) was signed into law, making significant changes to the definition of “disability” to cover a broader range of individuals.1

The ADA published it’s Standards for Accessible Design in 2010, setting minimum requirements for newly designed and constructed or altered State and local government facilities, public accommodations and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.2 In honor of Disability Awareness Day, we’re breaking down the basic tenets of the ADA to help you learn more about what’s expected of you and your clinic.

Don’t worry about sifting through all 275 pages of the ADA Standards! ADAChecklist.org has compiled a full checklist to ensure your compliance, with solutions for each regulation. Here are some important ones to make sure your environment is safe and accessible for people of all disabilities.3

Parking Lot and Entrance

• At least one route from site arrival points like parking and loading zones that does not require the use of stairs
• If parking is provided for the public, an adequate number of accessible spaces provided
• o Ex. 1-25 spaces = 1 accessible space, 26-50 spaces = 2 accessible spaces
• At least one van accessible space
• Accessible spaces at least 8 feet wide with an access aisle at least 5 feet wide
• An alternative accessible entrance if the main entrance is not accessible
• Signs on all inaccessible entrances indicating the location of the nearest accessible entrance, labeled with the International Symbol of Accessibility

Accessways and Hallways

• At least one accessible route in all public spaces
• Accessible routes at least 36” wide
• Routes that are stable, firm and slip-resistant

Ramps

• A running slope no steeper than 1:20 (For every inch of height change there are at least 20 inches of route run)
• Handrails on both sides with a rise higher than 6 inches
• The top of the handrail gripping surface no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches above the ramp surface
• A handrail extending at least 12 inches horizontally beyond the top and bottom of the ramp

Doors

Carpets

• Carpets or mats no higher than 1⁄2 inch thick
• Edges of carpets or mats securely attached to minimize tripping hazards

Full Size or Limited Use Limited Access (LULA) Elevators

• Call buttons no higher than 54 inches above the floor
• Sliding doors that reopen automatically when obstructed by an object or person
• Swinging doors that are power-operated and remain open for at least 20 seconds when activated
• An interior of at least 54 inches deep by at least 36 inches wide with at least 16 sq. ft. of clear floor area
• A door opening width at least 32 inches
• Car control buttons designated with raised characters and Braille
• Audible signals which sound as the car passes or is about to stop at a floor

Signs

• Text characters that contrast with their backgrounds
• Raised text characters and braille

Table Seating

• A surface with no less than 28 inches and no greater than 34 inches above the floor
• Clear floor space at least 30 inches wide by at least 48 inches long for a forward approach
• A surface that extends no less than 17 inches and no greater than 25 inches under the surface
• Knee space at least 27 inches high and at least 30 inches wide

Sales and Service Counters

• A portion of the counters that are no higher than 36 inches above the floor and at least 36 inches long

Drinking Fountain

• At least one drinking fountain with clear floor space at least 30 inches wide and at least 48 inches long centered in front of it for a forward approach
• A control that can be operated with one hand and without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist
• A spout outlet no higher than 36 inches above the floor and no more than 5 inches from the front of the drinking fountain
• If there is more than one drinking fountain, at least one is designated for standing persons

For healthcare professionals working in home health settings, you know how important it is for your patient’s home environment to align with ADA regulations as well. We’ll spare you another outline, but here’s a full home compliance checklist that details how to integrate ADA standards for ramps, parking, loading zones, bathrooms, hallways, doors and bedrooms.

Disability Awareness Day isn’t the only day in July dedicated to the rights and inclusion of the disabled. July 26th is the anniversary of the ADA: a day to celebrate the progress that has been made and champion for the work that has yet to be done. To get involved, check out the dedicated media kit and monthly themes, and sign the pledge to showcase your commitment to the cause.

Resources:

1. https://adata.org/learn-about-ada

2. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards.pdf

3. https://www.adachecklist.org/doc/fullchecklist/ada-checklist.pdf