Seasonal, temporary and pop-up retailers have an added challenge this year. As of March, any retail space constructed or altered must meet the Department of Justice’s latest ADA requirements and the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. 

That applies to all new retail construction and any alterations to retail spaces; and if an existing facility is used, then retailers must conduct “readily achievable barrier removal.”

The recent updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design were detailed at the SPECS session, “The ADA: 20 Years +1.” The session, part of the Tenant Improvement Construction/Remodeling workshop track, also gave a brief overview of the law and its enforcement.

According to the speaker, more than 200 private ADA lawsuits are filed in U.S. Federal Courts across the United States each month. The suits are filed mainly by disability organizations, disability rights advocates and law firms.