Disable Access - ADA Compliance

 1.) Contact a Certified Access Specialist (CASp), who is certified by the state of California to have specialized knowledge of the applicability of state and federal construction-related accessibility standards.  Hiring a CASp is important in bringing your business in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).  A CASp will inspect your business and prepare a report identifying ADA barriers found at your business and describe the barrier removal requirements to comply with federal and state accessibility guidelines.  I recommend Rick Halloran, who was a Senior Building Inspector who worked for the San Francisco Department of Building and Inspection (DBI).  He retired as the Department ADA Coordinator and teaches classes on disabled access.  He is a principal of City Casp Consulting and can be reached at (650) 255-4777 or by email at Citycasp@gmail.com.  For more information on CASP, google www.dga.gov/casp.

If you prefer to choose your own CASp, GOOGLE City CASp Consulting.  Scroll down to List of Certified Access Specialist (CASp) – CA.gov and you will get a list of other CASp certified by the state of California.

2.) Contact the Department of Building Inspection Disable Access (628) 652-3730 for guidelines or for any questions you have.  

3.) GOOGLE Department of Building Inspection Disabled Access.  Click onto: a.) Disabled Access Requirements – Department of Building Inspection.  b.) ADA Compliance / SF Business Portal.

4.) If you have to make changes, make sure you have a DBI Inspector do an inspection to make sure you are in compliance.  This is a free service.

If you were not aware of the ADA requirement, you may be given a grace period to make changes to be in compliance.  You can take immediate by doing the following: 1.) Contact and hired a CASp.  2.) Contact the SFDBI Disabled Access and the Building Inspector in your area. 3.) Move forward and make the necessary changes to be in compliance.