Accessibility involves ensuring that your workplace and business are usable by everyone, including both workers and customers. This means that essential features such as parking spaces, doorways, washrooms, and service counters must be accessible.

Regulations regarding accessibility vary by location, so it’s important to check with your regional government to ensure compliance with local laws. Here are some common accessibility considerations:

Parking: Regulations often require a certain number of parking spaces to be designated for disabled parking, usually located close to building entrances. These spaces should be clearly marked and large enough to accommodate vehicles with mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Some vehicles used by people with disabilities may be larger and require additional space for maneuvering and lift operation.

Signage: Ensure that disabled parking spaces are clearly identified with appropriate signage to prevent misuse and to ensure availability for those who need them.

Addressing these aspects is essential for creating an inclusive environment that accommodates everyone effectively.

Ramps

There is not much point in creating accessible parking spaces unless everyone can get in the building. Ramps need to be in place so that people can get from their vehicles to the building. They also need to be kept in excellent repair and free of snow, ice, and debris.

Doorways

Doors must meet certain criteria in order to be considered accessible. Again, this varies between regions, but all doorways need to be wide enough to allow a wheelchair. (32 inches is standard in North America.) The door opening force needs to be as low as possible so that people can open the door independently, even if they are usually assisted with an electronic motor.

Restrooms

There should be accessible restrooms throughout the workplace (usually one stall within a multi-stall washroom). Single stall washrooms should have handrails, accessible sinks, towel holders, soap dispensers, etc. If you are not sure whether your restrooms are adequate, make sure to ask people who are using them to give you some feedback.