Assessing and Improving Accessibility of Public Accommodations in an Urban Latino Community

Abstract

This study was designed to assess and promote compliance with the public accommodations provisions (Title III) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in an urban Latino community. Title III of the ADA requires the removal of physical barriers that prohibit people with disabilities from entering public establishments and accessing their goods and services. An educational intervention was used, whereby the physical accessibility of 38 establishments was assessed. Following this baseline assessment, culturally competent ADA information and feedback were either mailed or personally presented to the owners and managers of these establishments. After at least 4 months, the physical accessibility of these establishments was reassessed. Results indicated that from baseline to reassessment, the establishments averaged one accessibility improvement per site. Presenting ADA information and feedback in person was more likely to lead to accessibility improvements than was mailing these materials. When establishments were assessed by a person with a visible disability, owners and managers were not significantly more likely to make accessibility improvements than when the assessor had no visible disability. However, prior contact with people with disabilities was positively related to improving accessibility. Reasons for not making accessibility improvements included misconceptions and misinformation about the ADA and people with disabilities. Overall results indicate the usefulness of face- to-face feedback and prior contact with people with disabilities in efforts to increase the physical accessibility of public accommodations.