Large Shopping Centers

The fact that there are still far too many buildings that do not provide adequate accessibility for people with disabilities is a problem. However, it’s a particularly large issue when the buildings in question are shopping centers. 

Consider for a moment an old town restaurant. Part of the charm of turn-of-the-last-century buildings meets the latest trends in dining. The ambiance and sense of history you just can’t get from a new building out in the suburbs is something that is often imitated but never duplicated. There is just one problem with this trendy new hot spot.

Regardless of who you are, whether you are a person with disabilities or you do not have any struggles that make basic daily functions difficult, your rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are protected here in the United States.

Have you ever wondered if the rickety, old, makeshift wheelchair ramp at the entrance to your favorite restaurant, bar, or store is ever just going to collapse under your chair one of these days?

With the holiday shopping season upon us, retailers are giving more attention to merchandise than ADA building compliance. Department stores pack every available space with extra merchandise for the holidays and nowhere is it more crowded than in the store aisles. Retailers view the aisles as extra display space; people with disabilities view them as barriers.

As we move towards fall, we also move closer to the holidays. Whether you want to go shopping for a Halloween costume, or already start your Christmas shopping, it’s important to have wheelchair access wherever you go. But what happens if you find that this access doesn’t exist or it’s unsafe?