#millings

As the great Bob Dylan once sang, “oh the times, they are a-changin’.”  Though these lyrics were written years ago, they still ring true in the present day. During these troubled times, it’s important to look back to see not only how far we’ve come, but also how our actions as community members shape the world around us. Rose Paving opened its doors in 1974 as a family-owned and operated company, and since that time we have always worked hard to give back to the surrounding communities that support us. Over the last four decades, we have had many opportunities to reinvest in our local infrastructure with incredibly positive results.

In recent years, we have committed ourselves to engage in an ongoing conversation about diversity in the workplace and how that commitment enriches the communities in which we live and thrive. One of our most effective efforts has been with Center for Companies That Care, an organization that since 2002 has been “dedicated to ensuring social sustainability and improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities.” After some of our members started mentoring in the AIM High Program, which works with underserved high school students until they graduate from college, our organization grew more involved with the positive message and effect being spread by Center for Companies That Care. This year, we were named to Center for Companies That Care’s Honor Roll for our years of dedication to taking into account the human toll when making business decisions regarding employees, customers, and (as it relates to our community involvement) underserved students.

It indeed takes a village to raise a child, and every child deserves a vested interest in the future. By working with high school students to help them prepare for college, we’re not only investing our resources in bettering the lives of individual community members but also in the community itself. To remain a socially responsible company, Rose Paving will continue to work with Center for Companies That Care as well as other organizations that promote the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

  Sincerely, Tim Chimack Vice President, Rose Paving

As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we reflect on the significance of this landmark legislation and look toward a future of equal access opportunities for all Americans.

What Can We Do To Recognize and Celebrate the ADA

Since its passage in 1990, the Americans With Disabilities Act has helped increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in our nation’s workplaces and communities. To celebrate the 30 years of equal opportunity, we’ve gathered as many ways to recognize and celebrate the ADA as we could. 

Take a look and see what you can do to recognize the significance of disability inclusion and show your support for equal access in your community.

Get Social

One way to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ACt is to utilize your social media platforms to talk about disability inclusion. Post articles, events and inclusion tips using hashtags like #ADA30, #DisabilityInclusion and #InclusionMeansEveryone. 

#ThanksToTheADA

Are you going to an accessible place? Do you frequent a handicapped accessible business? Post a picture of yourself and others utilizing an accessible space and post it to social media with the hashtag #ThanksToTheADA to share you are celebrating the anniversary.

#ADA@30

As we near the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University is posting thirty short essays about the law, the anniversary, and the cultural impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Check them out and post share your thoughts to social media using the hashtag #ADA@30.

Volunteer with a Disability Organization

Find a disability organization that aligns with your team (perhaps a team member is a parent of a child with a disability and you want to support them) or your company has adopted an organization to support. Find as many ways to volunteer and engage as you can.

Read the Timeline and History of the ADA

There is a lot of struggle, history and perseverance that went into drafting the Americans with Disabilities Act. You can learn all about the timeline and history of the ADA by visiting the ADA National Network. 

Make a List of Accessible Restaurants, Hotels and Venues Near You

Ensure there are no surprises when going out for team events by providing a list of accessible venues near your locations for visiting customers, clients and recruits. This should also include accessible transportation. Don’t forget to ask about accommodation needs before every team meeting. 

Renew Your Commitment to a Disability-Inclusive Workplace with Rose Paving

Are you a business owner? One way to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act is to review policies to ensure they convey a commitment to a disability-inclusive culture and update and disseminate as needed. 

Once you’ve renewed your commitment, you can then issue a press release expressing your organization’s commitment to the ADA and the actions you’ve taken to create a disability-inclusive organization. 

Nevertheless, if your review of your business reveals gaps in ADA compliance, then the best thing you can do to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ADA is to call Rose Paving for an ADA compliance assessment.

DISCLAIMER: All ADA work is performed under the assumption that Rose Paving, LLC shall follow existing design plans and shall not provide design services.

Even during the COVID-19 downtime in retail, a lot is riding on your lot. While property managers have seen significantly reduced traffic to retail stores, restaurants, professional offices, and even some doctors’ offices, some have creatively transformed their parking lots into money—and memory—making opportunities.

Drive-in Theatres

One family-friendly solution? Transform your parking lot into a drive-in movie theatre. Purchase an outdoor screen and projector—or if your lot is small, you can DIY a projector for your laptop—then choose a G or PG movie, create a save the date graphic, and start promoting on social media. Share the information with your tenants and encourage them to share with their followers. If your business has food vendors, invite them to set up kiosks outside to sell food. Likewise, retailers can set up tents to sell their goods for a marketplace vibe. Charge $5-10 per car for a fun, low-effort way to keep your property top-of-mind with the public.

Some businesses, like Lowe’s, are hosting these drive-in movie theatres in their lots to raise money for small businesses within rural communities who have been hard hit by the pandemic. They use the drive-in event to raise funds for their grant program with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, which provides relief to small and minority-owned businesses in paying rent, payroll, and operational expenses throughout the pandemic. If fundraising sounds like a good option for your business, consider donating the funds to your tenants impacted by the pandemic or using the funds to help offset their rent during the downtime.

Dining Al Fresco

Many property groups have provided their restaurant tenants with extra space to expand outdoor seating areas, allowing the restaurants to reopen safely and in accordance with their local government’s phased protocol. This approach can go a long way with your tenants, as it helps them expand their space safely while acting as a bit of a novelty for diners, who are looking forward to eating outside of the house again and seeing their favorite restaurants creatively transform parking lots into ambient dining experiences.

Lease Your Lot

If hosting an event or using your parking lot for expanded restaurant seating doesn’t sound like the right option for your business, consider leasing it out to earn additional revenue. Some malls are leasing their parking lots to businesses or hospitals needing to expand their space for food trucks, curbside pick-up operations, or even COVID-19 testing sites. This tactic takes the event planning off your plate but still allows for revenue.

Whatever solution is right for your business, make sure your parking lot is up-to-date before offering events, expanded seating, or the opportunity to lease. Meet all ADA requirements to ensure your facility is safe, free from barriers, and accessible for all. Reduce liabilities by filling potholes and cracks and creating a smooth, even surface. Keep the lot easy to navigate and traffic flowing with fresh lot marking. Create the right impression with tenants and their clients by ensuring your lot is in good condition. 

Contact Rose Paving for a free lot assessment to ensure your lot makes the grade and is ready for these new opportunities. Now is the perfect time for maintenance and upgrading your lot while traffic is low, so reach out today.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive federal law that ensures people with disabilities have equal access to all areas of public life, like employment opportunities and places of public accommodation.

If you operate a business with a commercial facility in the United States, then you’re likely already aware of the importance of complying with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Rose Paving has created this Guide to ADA Compliance with everything you need to make sure your facility is safe, free from barriers, and accessible for all. 

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

Enacted in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a far-reaching federal law that guarantees equal opportunity for individuals withdisabilities in all areas of public life, specifically: 

Employment (Title I)

Public Services (Title II) 

Public Accommodations (Title III)

Telecommunications (Title IV) 

Miscellaneous (Title V)

Though the ADA applies to all sectors of public life, the sector that applies to your commercial property is Title III (Public Accommodations). In short, Title III sets the minimum standards for accessibility for alterations and new construction of facilities, known as 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

Title III also mandates private entities, like hotels, restaurants, health clubs and movie theaters to remove barriers in existing buildings where it is easy to do so and without much difficulty or expense.  

Who is Subject to the ADA Requirements?

As a federal law, all areas of public life in the United States are subject to the ADA requirements. If you operate a business that relies on a commercial facility, you are subject to the ADA twice, via Title I and Title III. 

Title I applies to every employer and is designed to ensure people with disabilities have the same access to employment opportunities and benefits as people without disabilities. Title III, however, only applies to Private Places of Public Accommodation, defined as facilities, both public and private, used by the public, such as:

Hotels

Restaurants

Retail Merchants

Doctor’s Offices

Golf Courses

Private Schools

Day Care Centers

Health Clubs

Sports Stadiums

Movie Theaters

ADA Compliance Resources for Businesses

The Americans with Disabilities Act is an all-inclusive legal document filled with complicated technical language and standards that is, at times, difficult to understand. 

Fortunately, there are a plethora of ADA resources available to the general public:

2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design 

Revised Final Title III Rule: A Compilation of Regulatory Provisions and Guidance — Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities

28 CFR Part 36 — Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities 

ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business 

Though the Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law, state and local governments frequently exercise their right to pass accessibility legislation that goes above and beyond the federal standards. That is why we recommend consulting with your local Rose Paving team before you begin a new parking lot project.

Guide to ADA Compliance Arizona

Guide to ADA Compliance California

Guide to ADA Compliance Colorado

Guide to ADA Compliance Florida

Guide to ADA Compliance Georgia

Guide to ADA Compliance Illinois

Guide to ADA Compliance Tennessee

Guide to ADA Compliance Canada

Who Enforces Title III of the ADA?

As a federal law, Title III of the ADA is enforced by the Department of Justice (DOJ). According to 42 U.S.C. § 12188, the DOJ may bring legal action against any private entity that fails to comply with the ADA and its Standards for Accessible Design.

What are the ADA Requirements for Commercial Properties?

The ADA requirements for commercial properties are designed to ensure disabled access to  highly-trafficked areas of the facility referred to as Primary function Areas, defined as any area where people carry out one or more of the major activities for which a facility is utilized.

The Checklist of ADA Requirements for Commercial Properties is quite detailed and includes things like:

Installing accessible hardware on doors and windows.

Upgrading public and company bathrooms with accessible appliances.

Increasing the number of accessible parking spots to your parking lot.

Increasing the width of door frames to allow wheelchairs.

Installing ADA handicap ramps or creating curb cuts at entrances and exits. 

Keep in mind that commercial buildings constructed before 1990 are subject to a different set of regulations, outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities (Title III). 

What are the ADA Requirements for Accessible Parking Lots?

The minimum accessibility requirements for buildings and facilities are outlined in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and categorized into two sections, Title II: Program Access and Title III: Barrier Removal.

Title II: Program Access requires all State and local government agencies to ensure that people with disabilities can gain access and participate in the activities they offer by adding accessible parking to their parking lots. 

Private entities, on the other hand, are subject to Title III: Barrier Removal, which mandates business owners to remove barriers when it is “readily achievable” to do so, such as designating accessible parking.

The number of accessible parking spaces required by the ADA varies depending on the total number of parking spaces in the parking lot. Generally speaking, however, a commercial facility needs one accessible parking space for every 25 parking spaces in the parking lot. 

What are the Penalties for ADA Noncompliance?

Any private entity that fails to comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design are not only subject to legal action from the Department of Justice (A fine ranging from $75,000 violation and $150,000 for every subsequent violation), but they are also subject to class action lawsuits filed by individuals with disabilities. 

How Do I Make Sure My Business is ADA Compliant?

The best way to ensure your commercial facility complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act is to read the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and contact Rose Paving for a consultation. 

From handicapped accessible parking lots and parking lot pavement striping, to new access ramps and sidewalks, we at Rose Paving offer every service you need to ensure your parking lot, garage and commercial property comply with all ADA Title III: Public Accommodation requirements. 

Contact Rose Paving to get started on your ADA compliance assessment today!