SAN FRANCISCO-Mayor Edwin M. Lee and District 4 supervisor Carmen Chu recently revealed the launch of a new invest in Neighborhoods pilot program called the Americans with Disabilities Act Small Business Assessment Program. The pilot will begin in District Four and will provide small businesses with an Americans with Disabilities Act assessment report, a plan for compliance, and access to new grant funding and loan programs to make upgrades.
According to Mayor Lee, “This new ADA Business Assessment Program takes a proactive approach to improving ADA compliance for our San Francisco small businesses and provide accessibility for everyone. This program is another example of the focused, customized assistance that my Invest in Neighborhoods Initiative provides to help small businesses succeed.”

According to supervisor Chu, “One important step that businesses can take is to undergo an inspection of their site, and we want to encourage every business to do so. This not only helps protects them in the event of a lawsuit, but also ensures that our entrepreneurs are taking steps to making their businesses open to everyone in the community.”
According to a prepared statement, the assessment program will provide a small business with a report and plan toward compliance. The goals of the program also include educating small businesses about how to identify and prioritize ADA improvements.

A significant concern from small business has been a lack of understanding of ADA requirements and misconceptions about the law, according to a prepared statement. The education that the assessment program provides will empower small businesses to prepare their stores and make them accessible, says a statement.