ADA and Business Boot Camp

ADA and Business Boot Camp is an opportunity for business owners and managers to learn the basics of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and welcoming customers with disabilities. The Boot Camp will address Title III of the ADA which covers businesses open to the public with 2 sessions: Accessible Buildings and Facilities  and Accessible Operations and Customer Service.  You may attend the Boot Camp either with full conference registration or by itself for for $189. Save $20 through July 31 and pay only $169.

1:30 PM: ADA & Business Boot Camp Part 1: Accessible Buildings and Facilities
Kaylan Dunlap, Evan Terry Associates
This session will provide an overview of Title III of the ADA and how it applies to commercial facilities and places of public accommodation, such as stores, restaurants, theaters, professional offices, and other types of businesses that offer goods or services to the general public. We will outline requirements for new construction projects and planned alterations, as well as the obligation for public accommodations to remove barriers in existing facilities, and we will explain the distinctions between alterations and barrier removal. We will discuss limitations that may arise when addressing access to existing facilities, including historic properties, and provide examples of alternatives and creative solutions to improve access to facilities, goods and services.

3:20 PM: ADA & Business Boot Camp Part 2: Accessible Operations and Customer Service
Marian Vessels, MSV Consulting and Claire Stanley, American Council for the Blind
This session will be a panel discussion about operational issues in places of public accommodation, and how businesses can ensure that customers with disabilities have equal opportunities to obtain goods and services. We will discuss how businesses can respond to individual requests for assistance or policy adjustments and communicate effectively with customers who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities. Frequently asked questions, such as when or how businesses can question individuals with animals, will be covered, along with other tips for commonly encountered situations. We will also introduce our “Customer Service Toolkit,” a resource businesses can use to train their employees to interact successfully with customers with disabilities and provide exemplary service.
4:50 PM Adjourn