What is Public Accommodation?
Any facility, business, or establishment that is available to the general public and provides goods, services, or accommodations to the public is considered a place of public accommodation.
The Importance of Public Accommodation in Accessibility
Places of public accommodation are obligated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide “reasonable accommodation” to guarantee that individuals with disabilities can access and use their facilities, services, and accommodations on an equal basis with others. Making physical changes to the facility or service, as well as offering auxiliary aids and services such as translators or assistive listening devices, are examples of this.
The ADA applies to websites and web-based applications managed by places of public accommodation as well as physical places of public accommodation. This means that these websites and applications must also be accessible to people with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments must be made as needed to guarantee equal access and opportunities.
Public accommodations are critical in ensuring that people with disabilities can fully participate in and access the same goods, services, and accommodations as everyone else. This is especially true for people with disabilities, who may rely on these facilities, services, and organizations for basic necessities such as healthcare, transportation, and accommodation.
Examples of Public Accommodations
Here are some instances of public accommodations:
- Hotels, motels, and other accommodation establishments
- Restaurants, bars, and other public food service establishments
- Retail establishments, shopping malls, and other public display or sale locations
- Theaters, stadiums, and other entertainment venues
- Transit hubs, airports, and other public transportation hubs
- Banks, laundromats, and dry cleaners are examples of service establishments.
- Museums, libraries, and other places of public gathering