When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by the Federal government, there was fear that it would ruin private businesses. The price of making every space accessible to those with disabilities would be prohibitive to business owners, especially owners of small businesses. Ten years later, ADA compliance is considered standard operating procedure for business owners and those in charge of public buildings.

Or at least it should be.

The ADA basically states this: That disabled Americans have the same opportunities and access in the workplace, government programs, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications that other citizens enjoy. While part of the law deals with employment issues, part of it regards physical accessibility.

The law is most often associated with public-government-buildings and space, but the ADA applies to optical as well. Title III (Public Accommodations) of the act states that all new construction and modifications must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. For existing facilities, barriers to services must be removed if readily achievable. Public accommodations include facilities such as restaurants hotels, grocery stores, retail stores (that's you), etc., as well as health providers (that's you, too).

In layman's terms, that means you've got to have good parking, you've got to have curb cuts for wheelchairs, you've got to have a ramp (or you have to supply alternative means of entry), and your doorways need to be a certain width.

The 10th anniversary of the ADA presents a great reason to take another look at your physical space and examine how it complies not only with the letter of the ADA, but with the spirit of the ADA as well. The former will keep you in good graces with lawyers, but the latter will keep you in good graces with your customers.

If your dispensary has a good number of senior patients, it's often the spirit of accessibility rules that can be your guide.

A Good Rule for Seniors

You don't have to be talking about just wheelchair accessibility to be concerned about ADA compliance. Furthermore, you don't even need to stay within the confines of the ADA when looking at accessibility issues. This is especially true if your patient base includes senior citizens (and most do).

Seniors aren't necessarily in wheelchairs, and they aren't necessarily disabled. But they still have certain physical needs and limitations that your younger customers don't have. Keeping them in mind when designing or redesigning is always a good idea-and will be appreciated by your patients. Here are a couple of ideas:

Ramps. Some older patients have trouble walking, whether it's due to knee or back pain, weak legs, or an unsteady gait. Walking up the incline of a ramp is easier than stairs. n Handrails. Handrails are covered under the ADA, and they just plain make good sense. If you've got a step anywhere in (or outside of) your store, make sure you're giving your customers something to hold onto.

Cane access. Those walking with the use of a cane need a slightly wider path. Make sure your aisles are wide enough to give every customer room to maneuver.

Chairs. Every dispensary has them at the table. But consider having a few placed throughout your entire dispensary. And make sure they're sturdy.

Tax Credits

The ADA was not passed to create undue financial burdens on business owners. In fact, the phrases "reasonable accommodation" and "undue hardship exception" occur frequently and prominently. If major work needs to be done, grants exist to help the business owners. And, if a workspace is modified to comply with ADA regulations, owners may qualify for a tax credit. A credit of up to $5,000 per year is available to cover accommodations that cost at least $250, but less than $10,250, according to AllBusiness.com, an Internet resource for small business information. Another credit of up to $15,000 per year is available if you remove certain barriers, such as steps, narrow doors, inaccessible parking spaces, and restrooms that do not meet ADA standards.

When designing your dispensary, it's easy to pay attention to display locations, signage, lighting, and the layout of your frameboards and dispensing tables. Those issues address retail strategies. Taking some time to look at the less obvious questions-Can disabled patients get in and out easily? Would seniors be able to move about easily and safely?-addresses customer service. And it's just as important. EB