Examines the effect of this 1990 law on facilities planning in the business world.
This report focuses on the Americans with Disabilities Act and its impact on facilities management and planning. The paper shows that, although this law affected a great many businesses throughout the United States, it is not fully understood in regard to the governmental expectations of businesses and how they expand or build new facilities.
“What the Americans with Disabilities Act states, therefore, is that businesses only need to make reasonable accommodations and at the pace that they can afford those accommodations. For example, if an organization knows they have to install a ramp in the front of their store but they cannot feasibly complete that project this year, they can wait until profits improve or plan it over time. The true nature of the Americans with Disabilities Act is to have all businesses and facilities develop a long-term strategy to discover and resolve barriers for the disabled.”