How to Advocate for ADA Accessibility Standards in the US

Author: Pavel Kuljuk
Published: 2024/07/31 - Updated: 2026/02/28
Publication Type: Opinion Piece, Editorial
Category Topic: Accessibility - Related Publications

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This information, written as an opinion and editorial piece, presents three practical approaches that individuals can use to advocate for ADA accessibility standards in the United States - filing complaints independently through the U.S. Department of Justice, joining state or city-level volunteer organizations, and working with commercial firms that specialize in ADA compliance. Prompted by a reader's request for guidance on becoming a disability accessibility advocate, the article details specific resources including the DOJ's online ADA complaint process, state volunteer commissions in places like New York, Georgia, and Nevada, and local enforcement programs such as Portland's Disabled Parking Enforcement Unit staffed by citizen volunteers. It also highlights that some states, including North Carolina, have statutory provisions allowing cities to create auxiliary enforcement divisions made up of volunteers. For people with disabilities, caregivers, and anyone interested in holding businesses and public entities accountable to federal accessibility law, this is a useful starting point for understanding the channels available for real advocacy - Disabled World (DW).

Topic Definition: Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design: The Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design are federally mandated guidelines that establish the minimum requirements for making buildings, facilities, transportation systems, communication platforms, and technology accessible to people with disabilities throughout the United States. Originally enacted as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and updated through subsequent rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Access Board, these standards apply to both public entities and private businesses that serve the general public, covering everything from doorway widths and ramp gradients to website accessibility and parking space designations. Enforcement occurs through federal agency oversight, individual complaints filed with the Department of Justice, private lawsuits, and in some jurisdictions through state and local volunteer enforcement programs. The ADA Standards exist to eliminate discrimination based on disability and to ensure that individuals with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities can participate fully in public life, access commercial services, and use government facilities on equal terms with non-disabled citizens.

Introduction

How to Fight for ADA Standards?

The article "What Is Happening to the Accessibility of Restaurants for Disabled People?" published in April attracted the interest of a readership. In addition to other comments, the editorial office received a letter from a reader asking for practical help in protecting ADA standards.

"Mr. Kuljuk has inspired me to be more of an advocate. If you know of any agencies that can assist me in my new role, please advise. I do want to add that I will be a "reasonable advocate". The physical constraints restaurant owners are working with is real. But I do not think it is unreasonable to request at least one table to be accessible," the reader wrote.

In response to their wishes, we tried to find out what a person who wants to protect ADA standards in the United States can do. Here's the result.

Main Content

The Path of Lone Heroes

Going it alone is the most difficult and unpredictable way to fight for ADA standards. As someone who has experience dealing with such powerful organizations as OFAC or Wells Fargo Bank*, I do not advise anyone to try to change this world alone :) However, since I once made such an attempt, I will share my understanding of independent struggle.

If you love justice, then at the federal level your assistant can be the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Here is what the organization's website says about our topic:

"The DOJ issues, enforces and provides technical assistance on the ADA regulations governing public accommodations and state and local government services. Technical assistance is provided by telephone and by web-based material on title II and III issues such as service animals, polling places, accessible websites and emergency preparedness."

The DOJ website provides an online complaint option for people who have noticed a violation of the law. If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against based on a disability, you can file an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint against:

A state government or local government, such as a:

Public hospital
Public school
Other state or local government program
A private business that serves the public, such as a:
Restaurant
Doctor's office
Shop
Hotel

A special page for sending complaints contains information to help you write a letter. There are also phone numbers you can call to find out the status of your complaint.

You can try your hand not only at the federal level, but also at the regional level. In this case, you will have more helpers. Since very often local authorities stimulate such activity of citizens. For example, this happens in North Carolina. There, on one website, citizens are offered to write letters to three addresses in case of violation of ADA requirements:

Building owner
Local (town, city or county) building inspector
Local ADA Coordinator.

Sample letters for each recipient are also posted on the website. You can use these sample letters or search for a similar local government initiative in your region.

Common Cause

It is easier and more effective to fight ADA violations by joining an organization. This can be done at the state or city level. Each state government has a department that supports volunteers. Very often, these volunteers fight for ADA standards. For example, in New York State it is the "Commission on National and Community Service", and in Georgia it is "The Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (GCSV or Georgia Commission)". Find a similar department in your state government and find out if volunteers are needed to fight for ADA standards.

In some states, officials themselves are looking for volunteers. For example, this is the case in Nevada.

"We are looking for volunteers with special insight to assist the State of Nevada agencies in their remediation efforts in the hope that we can eliminate ADA barriers. It is our goal to deliver the same experience to everyone, and we appreciate your willingness to participate in this process. This program is on a strictly volunteer basis, even though it may provide a reference for future employment opportunities," - says the website of the state government of Nevada. And this is said beautifully!

There are also opportunities to advocate for equity at the city level. For example, Portland, Oregon has a Portland Police Bureau's Disabled Parking Enforcement Unit.

The city government's website states:

"The Disabled Parking Enforcement Unit is comprised of citizen volunteers educating the public on disabled parking and enforcing disabled parking permit violations allowable under ORS 811.632. The unit focuses on parking lots throughout the City of Portland with properly designated disabled parking."

Perhaps there is a similar organization in your city. Look for it! It is worth noting separately that the creation of police departments consisting of volunteers is permitted in many states. For example, this opportunity is provided for by the legislation of the state of North Carolina. The law states:

"Under N.C. General Statutes § 160A-282(a)," [a] city may by ordinance provide for the organization of an auxiliary police department made up of volunteer members."

That is, there is an opportunity to create such a division if it is not in your city. In the fight for the rights of the disabled, doing more is better than doing less!

Alternative Option

Enforcing and maintaining ADA standards has become a real business. Several companies at the state and even federal level are engaged in commercial activities in this area. These firms not only help restaurant and other property owners comply with ADA requirements, but also provide legal protection to property owners if they comply with the requirements and are attacked. There are also companies that develop software that helps with ADA compliance.

Collaborating with such companies can be a profitable business, unlike volunteering alone or with someone else. In this case, you can not only do a good deed, but also earn money.

The average cost of volunteering in the United States in 2024 shows how big the earnings can be. This figure is $33.49 per hour! You don't need to value your work in a commercial company for a good cause cheaper.

Bingo! But this phrase can be said if you get such a job.

Conclusion

As we can see, there are at least three ways to fight ADA standards. The choice of methods of struggle depends on the personal characteristics of the person wishing to take up this matter. It is worth remembering that the path to justice is so difficult that sometimes the process itself becomes more important than the result. This gives strength not to turn off the path.

*These events had no bearing on ADA standards but provided valuable insight into what it means to be a bureaucracy backed by money and political power.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What this article makes plain is that enforcing ADA standards does not have to be a solitary effort - and it does not have to be unpaid work either. The three paths outlined here range from filing a federal complaint with the Department of Justice, which any individual can do through an online form, to joining organized volunteer units at the state and city level, to partnering with commercial firms where ADA compliance work can become a source of income averaging over $33 an hour. The fact that states like Nevada are actively recruiting volunteers with lived disability experience, and that cities like Portland have built entire citizen-led parking enforcement units, suggests there is real institutional appetite for this kind of grassroots involvement. For anyone who has encountered an inaccessible restaurant, a noncompliant business entrance, or a public space that simply ignores federal law, the takeaway is straightforward - there are concrete, established channels for doing something about it, and the barrier to getting started is lower than most people assume - Disabled World (DW).

Author Credentials: Pavel Kuljuk's articles and poems are published in Australia, North America, and Europe. In recent years, he has been constantly collaborating with Australian Rural & Regional News (Australia), Red Hook Daily Catch and OpEd News (USA), and Disabled World (US/Canada). Kuliuk's individual publications are in Forbes (Kazakhstan), Rural 21 (Germany), London Loves Business (UK), Karrep (India), RealClearDefense (RCD), Change Links, Daily Caller (USA), and many others. Explore Pavels' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.