Commercial facilities such as offices often have to cater to a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. The majority of people find it easy to access most offices. One group that has historically had a hard time with this are the disabled. With obstacles such as steps, staircases and narrow door openings, it has been difficult for them to find disabled-friendly offices. Thankfully, this is a trend that is reversing. If you are an office owner, there are many compelling reasons why you should consider making your office more disabled-friendly.
Main Reasons For Making Your Office Disabled-Friendly
An increase in the number of people who can access your office is the main reason for making it office friendly. This means that you can easily hire employees who are highly skilled and disabled, but who will have no problem working for you. There are many disabled individuals who are highly skilled, but who don’t get an opportunity to showcase their skill on account of their disability. By converting your office, you would be taking advantage of an excellent pool of skill.
Clients will also be able to access your office, which increases business. Over time, the cost of making the office disabled-friendly will pay off, particularly if you provide goods and services that they may be interested in. Having a policy of disabled-friendly facilities also gives your brand a good image.
Typical Changes That Are Usually Made
In order to make any office or other commercial building disabled-friendly, there are typical changes that are usually made. One of these is provision of a means to go over steps, such as when going through the office’s front door. This can be done by adding a ramp, or simply getting rid of the steps altogether and putting a ramp in place. This can be used by the able-bodied and the disabled, such as people in wheelchairs. It’s important to consult office renovation specialists to discuss how to do this. Other renovations that may be necessary include widening doors to make it easier for wheelchairs to pass through, installation of special lifts in multi-storied buildings that don’t have elevators and installing disabled-friendly washrooms.
The Importance Of Consultation
Before making these renovations, consult a certified contractor for further details on what the project will entail. This is a critical phase in the planning process, since the idea will now be put on paper and you will get more information regarding variables such as what you can expect to spend. Working with established contractors ensures that you get proper advice and reasonable renovation rates.
Check The Current Standards
In NYC, there are standards set by the authorities determining issues such as the ideal grade for a ramp to be used by disabled persons. For any changes you make during the renovation, it would be a good idea to follow the recommendations since they are usually reached after thorough research. Of course, if you consult a top-notch contractor, they will know about these standards, and will ensure that all renovations meet them.