How can I Make My Retail Business Disability Friendly
By Mark Carlson, ATS, ACB
What modifications can I make to my retail business to accommodate patrons with disabilities?
Persons with disabilities like other consumers shop in retail stores. There are a number of simple and inexpensive ways to make your retail business more disability friendly.. Some involve changes in appearance, others in physical arrangements.
For Vision Impairments:
- High-contrast flooring in traffic areas, such as aisles. Checkered tiles or patterns can help a person with visual impairments find their way through a dark or complex store.
- Different color or patterned flooring or walls to delineate different departments. Or use different textures of carpet/flooring for tactile senses.
- Easy-to-locate check-out lanes, perhaps with brightly colored lines on the floor leading to them.
- Large-print price tags, or Braille on the shelves for commonly-stocked items.
- Braille or large-print directories for large grocery or department stores. Dymotape labelers can be used to place Braille tags on shelves. They are available through:
- Easy-to-find aisle numbers and common items listed at end caps. For instance, ‘Aisle 4, canned goods, baking supplies, fruit drinks.’
- Where practical, have items stocked in alphabetical order, such as canned goods.
- Provide a talking UPC barcode reader to be checked out by patron upon entering store.
- Or, have a handheld CCTV available for customer use in identifying merchandise and prices. These can be checked out by leaving a CA I.D. or Driver’s License.
- Talking register or large fonts on register screen.
- Have signature cards available at all registers. These cards with a window, can be placed over the area where a signature is required making it easier for blind and low vision customers to sign in the correct spot..
- Tactile dots on electronic signature screens. (1,3,5,7,9,0, CANCEL and ENTER).
- Spotlights or track lighting in dark and constricted areas.
- LED tape lighting, the same as used in theaters, may be laid along the baseboards of dark areas of a store or in the hallways to the restrooms. The lighting may also be helpful along aisles or specific departments as a way of defining them. This can be obtained at: http://www.ledlightinginc.com/?gclid=CJf1yLrcsqMCFSD3iAodaTLS4w
- Blinds or shades on large front windows that face morning or afternoon sun. Glare can make it virtually impossible for a person with some visual impairment to move about safely.
- Grass areas near store entrance for service dog relief. This is a very important issue for dog owners. This applies to all types of service dogs, not just guide.
For Physical Impairments:
- Wide, unobstructed aisle, avoiding stacks of inventory or other obstacles.
- At least one wheelchair-accessible checkout line, with lower counter to sign checks and receipts.
- Avoid thick rubber mats or carpeting which may prove to be a hazard. In cases where mats are required, tapered edges will make using a walker or cane safer. In addition, black-and-yellow CAUTION tape may be applied at the edges for higher visibility.
- Train staff to assist disabled persons with lifting and carrying items out.
- Baskets designed to attach to wheelchairs or scooters. Available at: http://justwalkers.com/walkers/walker-accessories/walker-baskets.html?gclid=CJe5lv7csqMCFQ5Xagod1xvZ6A
- Freezer and cooler doors that stay open, until manually closed. This makes it possible for a person in a wheelchair to select their merchandise without holding door open.
- Large changing rooms for wheelchair access in clothing departments.
For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
- A sign on the front door indicating the presence of an ASL-skilled or at least ASL Alphabet-capable employee.
- A writing pad at the registers for clerks to write on when communicating with deaf customers.
- Making sure employees know to speak directly to a hearing-impaired person, not to their companion. Speak clearly, not loudly.
- Flashing smoke and fire alarms to alert a deaf customer of emergency.
These are just a few suggestions which can greatly enhance the universal access to a store or business. Just asking a disabled patron the question “Is there anything we can do to make your shopping easier?” will go a long way toward making that customer comfortable and welcome in your establishment. The answers are often surprisingly simple.
The AT Network is dedicated to protecting the rights of our consumers and allowing them to remain independent in the community. If you have a question, concern, or a story to share with us then please don't hesitate to contact us:
Toll-Free: 800-390-2699
TTY: 800-900-0706
E-mail: info@atnet.org
For Steve Richardson, the use of hearing aids has always been part of his daily routine. Today, the technology continues to facilitate his communication and participation at work, at home and in the community.
