If you aim to be rewarded for achieving compliance or presenting a solid plan, then an ADA accessibility grant may be in the cards.
Government agencies and for-profit organizations provide ADA accessibility funds to businesses. These funds are used to manage various accessibility projects across all types of goods and services, ranging from wheelchair ramp modifications at your local store to ongoing educational programs about achieving ADA and WCAG compliance.
With roughly 15% of the world’s population experiencing some form of disability, effective use of ADA funds can make a significant impact.
Please continue reading to learn more about accessibility grants, including their benefits, ADA requirements for small businesses, available funding options, and the process of applying for them, with a positive mention of the Accessibly app, a leading ADA accessibility widget.
Available Funding Options
Here is a run down of some of the more popular available funding options for ADA accessibility:
Nonprofit Organizations
There are numerous resources and grants for nonprofits, public entities, and private foundations that award ADA accessibility grants to businesses and organizations.
For instance, two popular private foundations that promote inclusivity for individuals with disabilities are the Kessler Foundation and the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.
These foundations offer businesses and organizations research, programmatic, and capacity-building funding opportunities supporting everything from building new assistive technology tools to conducting ongoing accessibility training workshops promoting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Municipalities
Grants for municipalities are typically aimed at larger architectural and renovation projects by businesses accommodating individuals with disabilities. Projects eligible for municipality funding may include creating more accessible parking spaces,upgrading old buses, building wheelchair ramps, improved bus transportation by private bus companies, and installing wheelchair-optimized elevators for disabled individuals.
Remember, it’s all about removing barriers with everyday activities like going to the supermarket.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
One of the more popular ADA funding sources is CDBG, administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CDBG awards grants and provides technical assistance (maybe even a training assistance program) to businesses and organizations supporting various accessibility initiatives, such as infrastructure improvements for the mobility impaired. Its reach is pretty broad, even in rural areas.
US Department of Justice
A strong advocate for accessibility, the US Department of Justice can offer a funding opportunity with federal funding under the ADA Title III grant program for non-profit organizations and other eligible entities to improve public accommodation for individuals with disabilities. Whether it’s a new construction or an existing convention center, any projects aiming to remove barriers (per federal law) can be considered by the US Department of Justice, provided all eligibility criteria are met. Yes, the US DOJ enforces the ADA too!
Note, the Social Security Administration (SSA), backers of supplemental security income, does not directly offer ADA compliance funding. However, they may work with other agencies that work on accessibility projects ensuring full and equal participation of all SSA services.
As you can see, complying with the ADA requirements can offer your next funding opportunity for eligible access expenditures.
Benefits of Obtaining Accessibility Grants
Here are our favorite benefits of obtaining Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility grants:
Secure Much-Needed Funds
The number one benefit of obtaining ADA compliance accessibility grants is securing much-needed funding to make accessibility improvements at brick-and-mortar locations or digital spaces.
For example, a non-profit organization may seek funding to provide reasonable access to its doors with a widened entryway, making it easier for the mobility impaired to enter, thus complying with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Without funding, this could quickly result in thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Tax Incentives
Another benefit of obtaining Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility grants is a tax incentive. Following any reasonable access improvements, businesses of any size e.g. small businesses may receive a tax credit/tax deduction to help offset the often high cost of making things more accessible.
Some available credits include, but are not limited to, the Disabled Access Credit (DAC) and the Barrier Removal Tax Deduction, which provide up to a maximum amount for various eligible improvements such as architectural renovations and modified ramps.
The main difference between the two is that the Disabled Access Credit is for small businesses, whereas the Barrier Removal Tax Deduction can apply to larger organizations.
Additionally, there’s the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (which slightly differs in incentivizing employers to hire individuals with disabilities). It’s important to note that Americans with Disabilities Act funding is not limited to making accessible architectural improvements but also extends to expanding work opportunities.
Process of Applying for Accessibility Grants/Compliance Funding
Let’s take a deep dive into the process of applying for accessibility grants and other compliance funding:
Research, Research, and More Research
The first step is to dive into the available resources and research the numerous ADA accessible grant programs, from the federal to the local level. For example, if your organization wants to install an elevator, state or federal Americans with Disabilities Act funding opportunities may be available. Whether you are a small business, own several small businesses, working within the field of higher education, or anything remotely related, do not skip this step!
Assess Eligibility
From there, ensure you are fully versed in all eligibility and ADA requirements. Every grant requires that an organization comply with specific objectives (e.g., minimum size or classification, nonprofit organizations, or government agency), along with additional guidelines regarding the population served and the types of projects that can be funded.
Proposal Time
Once you’ve researched and narrowed down your top accessible grant options to two or three, starting a project proposal is probably a good idea. Your project proposal should include everything to support your project, including architectural plans, specs, ADA requirements met, floor plans, costs, project timelines, and any other pertinent details.
At this point, you will also be required to gather all supporting documentation, such as your tax ID number and other identifiers.
Grant Application Submission
Once you have developed a project proposal and gathered all required supporting documentation, it’s time to submit your application through the designated channels. Ensure that all your information is up-to-date and complete, and follow all formatting required by your funding organization.
Depending on the funding party, it could take several weeks to hear back with a grant award notification or rejection.
There are many dedicated support resources to assist in applying for ADA compliance grants, such as the US Department of Justice, disability rights organizations, and even grant writing professionals with expertise in crafting proposals to increase your chances of securing ADA funding. If you need help figuring out where to start, they are an excellent resource.
All About the Accessibly ADA Accessibility Widget
The Accessibly ADA accessibility widget is one of the leading compliance widgets on the net. It allows websites and platforms to increase compliance with WCAG and ADA guidelines.
Its features are designed to promote full and equal participation for all individuals with disabilities. For example, those with visual impairments can enjoy enhancements like larger text, adjustable brightness, and compatibility with text-to-voice tools, with “robots” verbalizing what’s on the page.
Here are other features supported by Accessibly, in no particular order of importance:
- Inverted colors
- Adjusted brightness and grayscale
- Readable fonts (great for people with dyslexia)
- Highlighted links and hidden images
- Excellent customer support
- Compliance with ADA and WCAG standards
- Works across businesses of all industries (not just ecommerce)
- Excellent resources section with interesting accessibility topics
If you want to get started on increasing WCAG 2.1, ADA, Section 508, and EN 301549 compliance, look no further than the Accessibly ADA widget. It works equally well on mobile phones and tablets.
