Rose Immortal

I am participating in a speaking competition early next year and chose to do my persuasive speech explaining why it's good (and feasible) for small businesses to comply with the ADA.

Are there any resources out there advising smaller businesses on how they can make themselves ADA-friendly and still stay within budget?

Deafness

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Nesmuth

The answer is that if theyre ADA friendly they will continue to exists otherwise shotgun attorneys will put them out of business with either settlement or high legal expenses.

The dept of justice website has plenty of info on that.

Richard

Tousi

Then again, I've heard that the ADA while well-intended as a law, falls far short of the mark.

Please forgive the intrusion, Rose Immortal and the best to you on this project.

Rose Immortal

It's OK, my Employment Law textbook did make the point about its falling short of what people hoped from it.

Nesmuth

We have classes on ADA accessibility for business every saturday morning.

Richard

VamPyroX

I think the issue is how deaf people will compromise with those small businesses. Working for a small business is like living at home with a big family. You can't just tell that small business that they have to accomodate in every way you want them to. They may not be able to afford it at the moment. Perhaps, some support from the deaf people will help... and give back with more money in the future. Would you make your big family accomodate you in every way you want just because you can't communicate with them? No. You have to work with them as well.

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Dennis

Since the ADA serves more than just deaf clients, there's probably a whole host of organizations in each state that can advise businesses on ADA concerns for their speciality, but I don't know for ADA as a whole.

For example, I can probably list 4 or 5 organizations off the top of my head who can each give advice and ideas for deaf people, or blind people, or physically disabled people.

I can only think of one organization that could do all three, and that organization has 3 different divisions so that would mean meeting with 3 different specialists. That organization wouldn't be doing free advice, either -- that information would have to be paid for.

Rose Immortal

This speech is going to be more general than just one particular group of clients...we have to have good, researched information--but I think we're expected to get everything into a 10-minute timeframe, so I don't need to get really, REALLY detailed.

The "big family" description I like very much. Is it OK if I call it that in my speech?

Reba

I think a lot of it depends on the kind of small business, and the kind of compliance required. That is physical requirements for building access, communication access for client service or employee information, etc. It depends on the size "small" business too. Some "small" businesses are pretty big and successful; some are truly "small".

For example, Hubby has a small business (just himself). His work requires him to go to the homes and businesses of his clients. No clients go to him. Therefore, he doesn't need to provide building access. However, he does need to communicate with his clients, so he must provide communication access. He has voice phone, TTY, email, fax, and Relay access.

I think as far as it is financially feasible, it is beneficial to small businesses to be ADA compliant. I think it should be voluntary and market driven. That is, if a small business is forced to follow the ADA to the letter of the law, it could financially wreck a small struggling business. However, if the business owner is smart, and wants to appeal to a larger range of customers, then the owner will do everything possible, [i]with modifications to fit the situation[i], to meet the needs of his employees and customers. That is, in some situations, following the spirit and goal of ADA might be a better solution than strictly following the technical specifics of the law.

Suppose a small business owner puts in an access ramp that is a 1/4 inch too narrow for ADA specs because it would mean major reconstruction to modify it. All his wheelchair-using clients are comfortable with the current ramp. But the ADA forces him to replace that ramp. The owner can't afford it, so he closes the business instead. How does that help his clients? (Just a very simplistic example.)

pek1

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/animal.htm

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Pete

Endymion

What about in the instances where a deaf employee does not want to inconvenience their small business employer? I had a job like that once long ago. I worked for a firm that just started and could not afford to pay for an interpreter for my certification and training programs.

Rather than strain the relationship, I ended up using my CI and everything went smoothly. I passed with flying colors and blew away the competition.

I left the firm a few months later for other reasons. I'm glad I didn't use up their resources, and I'm very glad we separated on positive terms.

Rose Immortal

I ended up giving that speech, and while I didn't place in that particular event, I felt good about what I'd done.

Thanks to those who contributed...I did take note of each of you!

Endymion--that actually goes to a point I made about small businesses in my speech: that they need to be very open about what is and isn't within their means so that the job applicant and the company can brainstorm and look for other solutions. I think some companies fail themselves by not consulting The Expert as a partner...that is, the person seeking an accomodation.

P.S.: To my surprise, I took first place in a different event--a limited-preparation competition where you get a topic and 30 minutes to prepare.

VamPyroX

Now, that's a positive attitude!

I've seen many deaf people abuse their ADA rights.

"I'm deaf! Therefore, I should have an interpreter!"

I am hard-of-hearing. I've gone through many job interviews without interpreters. Most of these job interviews were for retail businesses like Dominos Pizza, Blockbuster Video, etc... so I didn't really need an interpreter. If it was for a big business and they offered to have an interpreter for me, then I would accept it. If it was for a small business and getting an interpreter would be a problem, then I wouldn't complain. I'd work something else out with that person.

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Endymion

I agree, VamPyroX! See, an employer-employee relationship is about teamwork. You make me happy, I make you happy. Everyone wins. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen all the time in the working world and the cause comes from both sides.

Plus, also maintaining a positive relationship with employers and coworkers (which involves a lot more than just teamwork on accessibility issues) can net you very good career advancement and excellent letters of reference.

I'm glad you're for working things out with your employer. My kudos to you!

Endymion

Congrats, Rose! What was the topic they gave you?

Rose Immortal

The one I did in the final round was about the ethical implications of a pharmaceutical company's plan in dealing with the AIDS crisis in Africa.

I think in part I got lucky because there were some really cheesy topics I could've gotten, but this one fit my speaking style (more serious) and my interests. I had some very good competition, and I'm glad that the two best ones who competed against me each won in a different category.

Reba

Roadrunner

Congratulations!! That's quite an outstanding acheivement and one that you'll surely cherish for years to come!

Now...umm...seriously, ever consider running for President? You know, they do have to give out quite a few speeches, some that are made LESS than 30 minutes-- Anyhow, once again, congratulations Rose Immortal!

Rose Immortal

Thanks!

And no, I will never run for public office...these days it's so nasty that if you value your family and your sanity, you should never do it. I could NEVER subject my family to something so horrible.

pek1

I'd still vote for you, RI, even if I had to move to your state to do it! Besides our differences, there are no hard feelings.

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Pete

Rose Immortal

Kind words...but I STILL won't run. Ever. I really think the reason we get so many bad politicians (and I'm not going to debate on who's who) is because the really good people stay out for fear of ruining their lives as well as their friends' and families' lives. Election campaigns are a pretty nasty business.

pek1

I won't disagree with you on that one, Rose Immortal. I'm thinking of running in a few years, but my mantra would be "issues" and not allow any mudslinging. Any mudslinging, I will refer back to the topic at hand, which is that particular issue.

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Pete

rjr2006

The small business employer still has no right to discriminate against the disabled.