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ADA Small Business Consultancy
(American's with Disabilities Act)

Are you looking for new, loyal customers?
People with disabilities in growing numbers have dollars to spend. People with disabilities represent one fifth of our population. Add to that fifth their friend and families who shop and eat with them. They are looking for accessible, disability-friendly businesses.

Does that describe your business?
Is your business accessible to people using wheelchairs?
Are your employees sensitive to customers who are Deaf?
Do you have Braille signage where required?

How can you help?
You can better meet the needs of people with disabilities better so that they will want to be your customer with an ADA assessment of your business:
a.   A surprise visit
b.   A second visit where measurements will be taken and problems discussed.
c.   Additional site visits as needed.
d.   A report that details what is not compliant to the ADA, and what
remedies exist.
e.   Optional follow-up emails and phone calls.

How do I do this?
During the first visit your business will be visited in the context of a usual customer. If a restaurant -  a meal will be purchased. If a clothing store -  clothing will be tried on. If a dry cleaner- clothes will be dry cleaned. This will provide the opportunity to experience what your customers experience. Notice will be taken of physical features of your business that are a problem and of customer service issues. Dependent upon the nature of the business, printed materials made available to your customers will be collected and evaluated.

During the second visit, the owner/manager should be present as measurements of any physical feature relevant to ADA compliance will be taken. Time will be taken to discuss these with the owner/manager, but will be detailed in a report. Any service issues encountered during the first visit these will be discussed.  At this time, ADA compliance issues relative to employees can be discussed if desired.

Ideas about low-cost or no-cost changes to insure ADA compliance will be provide in the report if desired. If more expensive changes must be made other low cost intermediate steps can be suggested. Information regarding tax incentives if expensive changes are needed will also be shared.

A written report will be provided after the second visit. This report can be used  in the future should you be sued to demonstate a good faith (see #7) effort toward becoming ADA compliant.

There is no guarantee you will not be sued under the ADA, but this report will demonstrate you were concerned about becoming an accessible business under the ADA.

What will it Cost?
$250.00 includes the cost of two visits,  the follow-up report, and one follow-up phone call or email.  

In addition, any costs connected to the visit will be reimbursed such as a restaurant meal for two or a user fee to enter your business. Mileage beyond 20 miles of 14 Mile and Haggerty, West Bloomfield will be charged at 40¢ per mile.

Additional visits and phone calls will be charged at $100.00 per hour. Visits will be charged in 30 minute increments, phone calls in 15 minute increments. Emails will be billed at $15.00 each reply.

Future Opportunity
There will be a guide to accessible business posted to the web and made available to the disability community in print at local disability events. This project will begin as soon as enough businesses have demonstrated that they are accessible to the disability community. This will be included in the cost of the ADA assessment.

What more do I need to Know?
This service is geared to the small business.  Under the ADA a small business is defined as a businss with less than $300,000 gross income or fewer than 50 employees. If your business is larger, individual arrangements can be made.

Because of my employment with the City of Dearborn as an ADA Coordinator,  I cannot  provide an assessment for a business located in Dearborn, Michigan.

Contact  Information

Susan Fitzmaurice
(248) 295-2414

Email (preferred method of initial contact)