Everyone has a right to eat out, and it's essential for new restaurants to equitably serve all customers. One in four Americans has a disability, and creating accessible conditions for people with disabilities is required by the American Disabilities Act (ADA), a 1990 civil rights law.
With few exceptions, every restaurant that has opened since 1993 has been required to follow ADA rules to provide a fair eating experience for all guests, so long as it was readily achievable and not "structurally impracticable to meet the requirements." From table spacing to door handles, there are a variety of factors to check off your ADA list.
ADA regulations: arriving at your restaurant
The parking area is the first part of your business that your customers visit. All restaurants must have accessible parking. The ADA requires at least one accessible spot for every 25 spaces, and accessible spaces must be near the building. One in eight accessible spots needs to be at least 8 feet wide to accommodate vans. And, it’s important for all parking areas to be flat with no more than a 2% slope.
ADA regulations: entering your restaurant
Follow ADA guidelines and welcome all customers by making sure everyone can enter your building safely. Your doors must be at least 36 inches wide, either with an equally wide ramp with no more than a 2% slope, or an entrance flush to the ground. If this is not possible at the main entrance, provide signage directing patrons to the accessible door.
When customers reach your accessible door, it’s important that the handle does not require squeezing or turning -- rather than knobs or panels, try a loop-and-lever style. The door should require less than 5 pounds of force to open. If you are unable to provide door access to everyone, offer curbside or delivery service at no additional cost.
ADA regulations: sitting and moving through your restaurant
As with the doorways, aisles between tables, shelves, columns, etc. must be at least 36 inches wide. You need to make sure 5% of your tables are ADA Compliant. Here are the key measurements to follow for a compliant table:
- Floor area: 30 inches by 48 inches
- Table height: 34 inches maximum, 28 inches minimum
- Knee clearance: 27 inches minimum (knee clearance must extend at least 19 inches under the table)
Restrooms should provide ample space for diners in wheelchairs, a designated stall with safety bars, accessible soap and water, and Braille signage.
ADA regulations: hiring staff
As you build your restaurant team, remember that it is illegal to ask potential employees if they have a disability or to make a job offer dependent on disability status. You can’t withdraw a job offer due to disability unless making the appropriate accommodations would "cause undue hardship" to your business.
Following these regulations is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creating a truly inclusive dining environment -- you also need to consider factors like access to condiments and buffets, where to store mobility devices, accommodating service animals, and more. As questions come up, reference this handy FAQ for restaurants and bars from the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund.
And, the Disability Law Center offers a helpful ADA Checklist (PDF) for restaurants and cafeterias. For even more details on restaurant accessibility, see the ADA’s full Guide for Small Businesses (PDF)
Comments