Accessibility & ADA Compliance

We’ll work closely with you to craft a tailored ADA Transition Plan that not only comply with ADA regulations but also promote a welcoming environment for people of all abilities. Our meticulous approach involves thorough site assessments, stakeholder consultations, and a keen understanding of your unique needs and goals.

Our Transition Plans include an executive summary explaining the methodology used during field assessment, prioritization, and cost estimates to remediate deficiencies. Also provided are phasing schedules for work completion planning and standard drawings for remediation methods. With each accessibility element, we provide an ADA code reference and an explanation of how accessibility can be reached. The report also includes general procedures and custom forms/spreadsheets to help you keep track of plan implementation.

Whether it’s an existing or planned facility, program, activity or policy, we can conduct assessments that identify physical and policy-related barriers to accessibility. Data collected from our assessments are summarized in detailed reports describing deficiencies and/or best practices. Specific ADA codes and violations are noted for understanding, as are the proposed steps needed to mitigate the barrier and the estimated cost of mitigation. A barrier severity rating is also included to allow for planning and prioritization.

Using assessment data, we develop SQL, Access, and Excel databases and GIS shapefiles of existing facilities and their associated ADA barriers. These databases and GIS project maps show all locations where barriers to accessibility exist at the time of the field assessment. With information on rankings, priorities, severity of barrier, perceived safety risk, and estimated cost of mitigation included, the database enables our clients to have a streamlined procedure and an interactive GIS database to monitor and report compliance efforts.

If barriers to accessibility are found in construction plans, Benesch’s experienced designers can draft plans for remediation. These plans will be reviewed by our engineers and ADA experts, ensuring that they are in full compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice regulations. This transition from planning to design makes accessibility improvements faster, cheaper and more effective for communities.

Ensuring your community is accessible requires your documents to meet ADA requirements as well. We prepare ADA-compliant documents, including PDFs and website accessibility reviews, for clients that adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 compliance requirements. Our in-house experts also have extensive experience in preparing accessible documents for the Federal Transit Administration. They have prepared a myriad of accessible documents, ranging from complex technical documents to graphically intensive executive summaries.

Often the biggest obstacle to ADA compliance for a community is a lack of knowledge and training. To remedy that, Benesch conducts ADA trainings throughout the country. Our experts can train your staff on the intricacies of the ADA to ensure that they understand its requirements and can maintain your facilities and services according to Federal and State Accessibility Code standards. Once all are aware of their responsibilities with the ADA, many violations can be fixed easily–and permanently. As a result, your community becomes more accessible for all and, in turn, decreases your liability from potential civil rights violation lawsuits.

In addition, we perform outreach events, such as public surveys and presentations to local stakeholder groups, to inform the community of your desire to be ADA compliant and ensure their participation and buy-in of the process. This helps improve transparency and helps you to earn the public’s trust.