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News & Events Joliet Wants Businesses Compliant AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT July 4, 2007 By BOB OKON Staff writer JOLIET -- The city of Joliet plans to begin issuing fines in August to businesses with parking and entrances that don't measure up to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Only about 500 of 2,600 business inspected are fully compliant with ADA standards, said Kevin Gahr, accessibility specialist inspector for the city. The Joliet ADA program focuses on stores, restaurants and other businesses open to the public. City fines for noncompliance are $75 but could add up at a rate of $75 a day, depending on how strict the city is with non-compliant businesses. "But the city's goal is not to get the $75," Gahr said. "Our goal is to get compliance with the businesses." These will be the first fines issued in the local program, which started nearly two years ago. The city is giving businesses more time to bring rest rooms into compliance because of the expense involved in those adaptations. Gahr said the main goal until now has been to educate businesses on ADA requirements. Those issued fines will be getting their third notice of non-compliance, he said. The low level of compliance is more a matter of lack of knowledge than unwillingness on the part of businesses, he said. "It's a new program. Nobody really knows what the ADA requirements are," he said. Gahr said paving companies at a seminar this spring were surprised by some of the requirements for handicapped parking. More educational efforts are in the works. The city on Monday gave $5,000 to the Accessible Cities Alliance, which will use the money in part to create an educational DVD on ADA requirements. The alliance is a partnership that includes the city, the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, and other organizations, including the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Pam Heavens, the executive director for the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, applauded the city's development of a local ADA program. "It's good to see because not all cities are willing to take this on," Heavens said. Bob Okon can be reached at (815) 729-6046 or bokon@scn1.com
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Other News Headlines Working to provide access for all Support Rights of the Disabled Nine Building Updates Earns Executive Award Joliet Wants Busenesses Compliant Check out the latest news and updates on the ACA Summer 2007 Summary Accessible Cities Aliance to Host Refresher Course on Current Handicapped Parking Guidelines Accessible Cities Alliance Promotes Progress, Partnerships Accessible Cities Alliance Continues Forward Progress 1st Anniversary Celebration Slide Show Accessibility Compliance Workshop Guest Editorial Guest Editorial Struggle continues to reach ADA goals "Joliet: Inspector to verify access for disabled" Accessibility inspections Lockport considers accessibility program ADA reminds us good access is good business
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