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1. I went to a local strip mall shopping center the other day and there were no accessible parking spaces anywhere in the whole lot. Is there a place I can report this?

If the business is located inside the city limits of Manhattan, call 785-587-2443 or 785-587-4506. Someone will investigate the situation and advise the property/business owner of what is necessary for compliance. If your situation takes place outside of city limits, but is in Riley County, call 785-537-6330; if it is outside of city limits in Pottawatomie County, call 785-457-3455.

2. If I am building on private, residential property for personal use, do I have to meet the ADA technical specifications?

The Americans With Disabilities Act does not apply to private residential homes. But, the technical specifications set forth in the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) or the ADA/ABA Guidelines are scientifically determined by legitimate research. Call Code Services at 785-587-4506 for additional questions regarding technical specifications.

3. Where can I find the specifications for building accessible rooms and structures and for doing renovations or alterations?

The ADA has standards for accessible design available online. Consult these guidelines for assistance in building structures and features that meet ADA standards.

4. Our church is building a new activities center, and some members of the building committee are saying we must install an elevator if we have a two-story building. Are elevators required by the ADA?

In many situations, elevators are required. However, religious organizations enjoy a broad exemption under the ADA. If you plan to use the activity center exclusively for church purposes, the requirement might be different than if you someday decide to use it as a day care center or for public events such as monthly meetings of the local humane society. However, accessibility should be factored into the building of the facility in order to allow the most members of the public to have full access to the facility.

5. Is a landlord required to provide access for renters to their rental home? Can I file a complaint?

You cannot file a complaint. This is not an ADA issue; it falls under the Fair Housing Laws. The landlord has no obligation to build a ramp or make other accommodations to provide access. The landlord must allow the tenant to make modifications to the dwelling unit in order to make it accessible. There are common sense limits on what kinds of modifications are reasonable and on the extent of those modifications. The tenant is supposed to put the house back the way it was, to the extent possible, at the time they move out of the rental dwelling unit. Make sure that you check out the law before you start building or start threatening to file a complaint.