6 Ways To Make Your Workplace More Accessible

Workplace accessibility ensures that workers have equitable access to a professional environment. An accessible workplace accommodates employees with a wide range of abilities and helps create a welcoming environment where everyone can safely navigate physical spaces, access necessary resources, and fulfill their responsibilities.

Physical accessibility is one major component of workplace accessibility. It can include accessible parking, entrances, hallways, restrooms, elevators, and work areas. Workplace accessibility also extends beyond the physical environment to include digital accessibility, communication tools, websites, and other workplace technology.

Business owners without a workplace accessibility plan should create one as soon as possible. Start by assessing workplace facilities and identifying barriers that could prevent employees, customers, or visitors from accessing the building. Businesses can then develop a plan to remove barriers and provide reasonable accommodations. Depending on the workplace, this might mean modifying the layout, improving entrances and pathways, providing accessible technology, or offering employee training.

Workplace accessibility is also an important legal consideration. Businesses covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must follow applicable accessibility requirements and provide equal opportunities to individuals with disabilities. The ADA outlines disability rights and protections and provides standards that help businesses create more accessible environments.

Creating an accessible workplace is about more than meeting minimum requirements. Thoughtful accessibility improvements can make it easier for employees and visitors to enter, move through, and use a facility safely and independently.

Prioritize Inclusivity

An inclusive workplace welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. All individuals should feel valued, respected, and heard within an inclusive work culture. Companies that prioritize inclusivity can foster collaboration, creativity, and original thought across the workplace.

Here are a few ways to prioritize inclusivity in the workplace:

• Encourage open communication among all employees;
• Create opportunities for teamwork in the workplace, particularly among individuals with different backgrounds or experiences;
• Invite employee participation in workplace decision-making processes;
• Provide employees with diversity, inclusion, and accessibility training;
• Offer flexible work arrangements when appropriate to accommodate employees' needs;
• Celebrate and promote diverse cultures, backgrounds, and employee experiences in the workplace.

Creating an inclusive work environment also helps create accessibility. Inclusivity makes the workplace a more welcoming and accommodating place for all workers. Prioritizing inclusivity might mean changes to the physical workspace, workplace policies, communication methods, or technology to help employees with disabilities participate more fully.

Accessibility should also be considered when planning workplace renovations or facility improvements. For more ideas, see our guide on strategies for renovating facilities without disrupting operations.

Ensure the Workplace Meets Building Accessibility Standards

An accessible workplace should meet applicable accessibility standards and building requirements. Businesses should evaluate entrances, pathways, parking areas, restrooms, workspaces, and other commonly used areas to identify potential barriers.

Examples of physical accessibility improvements in the workplace include:

• Installing wheelchair ramps, platforms, and other solutions that create accessible pathways;
• Providing accessible parking spaces located close to building entrances;
• Keeping hallways and pathways clear of obstacles;
• Installing visual fire alarms and other notification systems for individuals with hearing challenges;
• Modifying bathrooms to make them more accessible to individuals with disabilities;
• Implementing automatic door openers when appropriate;
• Providing accessible entrances and eliminating unnecessary changes in elevation;
• Ensuring that all information and communication technology (ICT) is accessible;
• Posting accessible signs and warning placards.

Even small changes in elevation can create obstacles for wheelchair users, scooter users, and employees who use walkers or other mobility aids. Threshold ramps can help create smoother transitions over smaller rises at doorways and other entrances.

For example, the PVI Aluminum Solid Threshold Ramp is designed for indoor or outdoor use in residential and commercial settings and is available in multiple widths and rise options. It has a 600 lb. capacity and can accommodate rises up to 4", depending on the selected configuration.

Larger elevation changes require a different solution. When selecting a wheelchair ramp for a workplace, consider the rise, available space, ramp width, surface, handrails, landings, and the mobility devices that will be using it. Our guide on how to determine the correct wheelchair ramp length can help businesses understand how rise and ramp length work together.

Businesses should also consider whether a permanent or modular ramp system makes the most sense for the facility. A wide aluminum wheelchair entry ramp with handrails can provide a more substantial access solution for entrances that require a longer ramp run.

Businesses that fail to meet applicable accessibility standards can face legal action, including federally imposed fines or other penalties. More importantly, removing physical barriers helps ensure employees, customers, and visitors can safely use the facility.

Implement Technological Accessibility Tools

Some businesses allow employees to work from home. However, companies that offer remote work should still consider accessibility when selecting technology, communication platforms, and digital resources. Accessibility needs can vary significantly between employees, so businesses should provide multiple ways to access information whenever possible.

Businesses can use the following strategies to implement accessibility in a remote work environment:

• Providing accessibility software such as screen readers and magnification programs;
• Ensuring that websites, online platforms, and internal systems are accessible;
• Offering alternative digital formats, including audio descriptions and large-print materials, for employees with vision challenges;
• Adding closed captions or sign language interpretation services to virtual meetings or events when needed;
• Creating training and support programs that teach employees how to use accessible technology.

Accessibility considerations can also apply to employees who work outside a traditional office environment. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provides guidance related to employment discrimination and reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.

In manufacturing settings, companies can also use automation tools to improve workplace efficiency and reduce physical barriers associated with repetitive tasks or equipment operation.

Train Employees on Workplace Accessibility Standards

Employees should receive training on how to use accessibility tools and how to interact respectfully with coworkers who have disabilities. Trained workers can help create a confident, inclusive work environment and ensure accessibility practices are consistently followed.

Training should also address everyday physical accessibility. Employees should understand the importance of keeping accessible parking spaces, ramps, doorways, hallways, and other pathways clear. A ramp or accessible entrance cannot function properly if boxes, carts, furniture, or other equipment are blocking the route.

There are many online resources available to help businesses educate employees on current accessibility standards. Some of these resources include:

• The ADA website: provides information about the ADA, accessibility requirements, and best practices;
• The U.S. Access Board: provides accessibility guidelines, training, and resources for businesses and organizations;
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): provides recommendations for making websites and digital content more accessible to people with disabilities.

These standards do more than establish an accessible workplace. They also help employees understand their rights and responsibilities. Consistent training can create a more inclusive workplace culture and promote trust between employees and management.

Create a Safe Environment That Encourages Employees To Speak Up

Employees should feel comfortable discussing accessibility concerns with management. Some accessibility barriers may not be immediately obvious to someone who does not experience them firsthand, making employee feedback an important part of maintaining an accessible workplace.

Here are a few tips to help employees feel safe and heard:

• Lead by example: Share your own thoughts on workplace accessibility and encourage employees to share their experiences and suggestions as well.
• Apply employee feedback: Reassure employees that their feedback is heard. Demonstrate your commitment to accessibility by implementing reasonable suggestions whenever possible.
• Address concerns in a timely manner: Address employee concerns soon after they are raised. Provide employees with a resolution timeline and let them know when they can expect to see updates.
• Offer support: Provide resources to employees who raise accessibility concerns and direct them toward appropriate workplace support resources.

Businesses should also periodically reassess accessibility instead of treating it as a one-time project. Employees' needs can change, workplace layouts can change, and equipment can be moved. Regular walkthroughs can help identify new barriers before they become larger problems.

These steps can help create a workplace where employees can openly share feedback. A workplace that responds to employee feedback can lead to more positive, productive experiences for everyone.

Develop Genuine Workplace Connections

Accessible workplaces can help foster genuine connections between workers. Creating an environment where employees feel comfortable communicating openly can help build professional relationships and strengthen workplace trust.

Companies should also develop genuine connections with other professional contacts, including clients and customers. This can improve customer relationships, strengthen loyalty, and create opportunities for continued business.

Open communication can also lead to better conflict resolution. Employees who feel comfortable communicating with one another may be better equipped to identify problems and work toward solutions.

Employee satisfaction can also benefit from genuine workplace connections. When employees feel valued and heard, they may be more engaged with their work and more motivated to contribute to a positive workplace environment.

Make Accessibility Part of Your Workplace Plan

Creating an accessible workplace is an ongoing process rather than a single renovation or equipment purchase. Businesses should regularly evaluate how employees and visitors enter, navigate, and use the facility, then address barriers as they are identified. Physical improvements such as accessible ramps, threshold ramps, clear pathways, and accessible restrooms can make a significant difference in how easily people move throughout a workplace.

Whether you are making a small improvement at an existing entrance or planning a larger facility renovation, accessibility should remain part of the conversation from the beginning. For additional ideas, read Strategies for Renovating Facilities Without Disrupting Operations to learn more about approaching workplace improvements while keeping your business running.

A thoughtful accessibility plan can help businesses create safer, more welcoming spaces while supporting employees, customers, and visitors with a wide range of mobility and accessibility needs.