Opening doors with ADA.

• Author: Woodring, Jeannie
• Position: American with Disabilities Act

How well are Alaska businesses conforming to the access guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990?

To get onto a ramp leading into an Anchorage building, you must step over a 2-inch curb. No problem, you say?

For Jane Thiboutot, a physical therapist for the Anchorage School District and Raven Physical Therapy, that small step is a big hurdle. Eighteen months ago, her battle with Multiple Sclerosis required that she lean on a metal walker for every step she took. Now, every curb, every step, every closed door is a barrier in Jane's path.

"Unless you experience it yourself, you don't even realize the barriers are there," she says.

One out of 11 disabled Alaskans and millions of disabled Americans feel the same way. Now, because of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, these curbs, steps and doors that bar disabled people from easy access to private businesses and public facilities must vanish.

The federal law (a) prohibits discrimination against the disabled on the job and (b) requires easy access for the disabled to jobs, goods and services. Title Iof the act targets businesses of 15 to 24 employees (who must comply by July 26, 1994) and 25 or more employees (compliance by July 26, 1992). Title II deals with state and local governments (compliance by Jan. 26, 1992), and Title III addresses public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants, retail stores, shopping malls, etc., which should have complied by Jan. 26, 1992.

Under ADA, no public accommodation is exempt from becoming accessible to the disabled. Across the country, six million private establishments will be covered by the law, many for the first time.

Businesses that don't comply are subject to lawsuits by individuals and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorney General. For first violations cited by the Justice Department, fines may reach up to $50,000, climbing to $100,000 for the second offense.

In Alaska, almost four years after ADA became law, are businesses and facilities becoming more accessible?

"Things are getting better," says Jane Thiboutot. "Many businesses have used the ADA codes and guidelines not to just meet a government requirement, but to actually think about how accessibility will be useful for a person who is using a wheelchair.

"There's been some improvements, but I still think there's a long way to go," she adds.

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