Please look at the photo below. This is a sign I found while walking into the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa at Kaanapali Beach in Maui, HI, on a recent blogging trip. This location is where drivers or those using a walkway are entering the site from the street in front of the site. The sign says “Van Accessible Parking at Lot Near Tennis Courts”, and there is an International Symbol of Accessibility and an arrow pointing to the right.

This is a great example of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) done right! Before individuals get too far onto the site and up the hill in the photo to the main entry to the Sheraton, disabled individuals are told that accessible parking (and an accessible route) are located to the right. Standard 206.2.1, Site Arrival Points, states, “At least one accessible route shall be provided within the site from accessible parking spaces and accessible passenger loading zones; public streets and sidewalks; and public transportation stops to the accessible building or facility entrance they serve.” At this site, there is a public walkway at the front of the site and a municipal bus stop near the site.

Standard 216.6 [Signs] Entrances, states, “Where not all entrances comply with [Standard] 404, entrances complying with [Standard] 404 shall be identified by the International Symbol of Accessibility complying with [Standard] 703.7.2.1. Directional signs complying with [Standard] 703.5 that indicate the location of the nearest entrance complying with [Standard] 404 shall be provided at entrances that do not comply with [Standard] 404.” Furthermore, Advisory 216.6, Entrances, states, “Where a directional sign is required, it should be located to minimize backtracking. In some cases, this could mean locating a sign at the beginning of a route, not just at the inaccessible entrances to a building.” So what the Sheraton at this site has done is place a directional sign at the bottom of the hill [at the beginning of the route] that leads to the main entry that directs disabled individuals to accessible parking and an accessible route to this main entry in such a way so as to minimize backtracking. Again, ADA done right! This hotel may be a great candidate for the Certificate of Excellence program at ADAIN.

If you observe a building that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.