Opening Doors For Those With Disabilities

There could be good news for the more than 54 million men, women and
children with disabilities in America.

There could be good news for the more than 54 million men, women and
children with disabilities in America. Many American firms are finding
ways to help them so they don't have to struggle to find drugstores,
health care facilities, education facilities, hotels, restaurants and
shopping outlets that are easily accessible.

With many baby boomers now entering their 60s and having a rise in
health- and mobility-related problems, there will likely be a sharp
increase in the number of Americans who will seek to spend their money
only at places that offer assistance for their mobility needs. In
addition, a positive customer experience will play a major role in
capturing the millions of dollars being spent by this growing baby
boomer market.

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was passed to
protect individuals with disabilities and guarantee them equal access to
all facilities. Over 15 years later, many people with disabilities are
wondering why so many places they want to go to are not accessible to them.

To help businesses become ADA compliant, Ingersoll Rand's Security
Technologies Sector created a strategic business unit for automated
openings. Ron Ratell, the unit's manager and ADA marketing manager,
believes the problem stems from a lack of awareness.

"Many small- and medium- sized-business owners are often unaware that
their facility is not in compliance with ADA guidelines," said Ratell,
whose company specializes in automated openings and also owns the
Schlage™ brand of commercial and residential locks, which are the
most widely used locks for homes and apartments in the U.S.

"More times than not, a business owner only becomes aware of
noncompliance following an accident or complaint by a person with a
disability. This reactive approach requires business owners to devote
unnecessary time and money defending themselves and their business,
while the building's openings remain noncompliant with ADA guidelines,"
added Ratell.

"Another problem that exists is that many business owners do not know
who to turn to for help on ADA accessibility issues or that there are
tax incentives that are available to help their operations become
updated to the necessary standards," Ratell said.

Currently, there are two major tax incentives programs available to
businesses to help cover the cost of making access improvements required
by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The first is a tax credit that
can be used for architectural adaptations, equipment acquisitions and
services. The second is a tax deduction that can be used for
architectural or transportation adaptations. Information on these ADA
Tax Incentives can be found at www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/taxpack.htm.

Ratell's company also offers business owners a wide range of consulting
services and turnkey solutions to help business owners make their
facilities ADA accessible. The Automated Openings Business Unit of
Ingersoll Rand provides solutions for all types of openings that are
required to be accessible. These solutions range from door handle
levers, door push/pulls, mechanical door closers and mechanical exits to
powered door operators. Powered door operators can range from push-n-go
(assist pedestrian in opening the door) to completely automatic opening
and closing.

Knowledge of the opening usage, fire and life safety codes, and ADA
accessibility requirements is critical to provide the right solution for
your particular openings. Optimized solutions are provided to bridge the
gap between the owner's business objectives and ADA accessibility.

For business owners or individuals who have questions regarding ADA
accessibility, Ratell recommends these organizations as valuable go-to
sources: the Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page (www.ada.gov),
National Organization on Disability (www.nod.org) and the United States
Access Board (www.access-board.gov).