The Equal Rights Center and CVS/Caremark have announced their initiatives to make CVS stores more accessible. http://www.equalrightscenter.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pr_10_12_2
A group of individuals with disabilities had approached the Equal Rights Center because they had not been able to gain access to the goods and services in the CVS stores. The issues included inadequate accessible parking, narrow aisles, merchandise and other clutter in the aisles, high counters and the inability to access blood pressure monitoring stations.
The problem is not confined to CVS. Other retail outlets should take note of this settlement. The purpose of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act is to provide equal services to persons with disabilities. If your aisles are too narrow for a wheelchair to go through, if you're blocking merchandise with advertising displays, or if you are in any way making it more difficult for a person with a disability to shop in your store than it would be for a person without a disability, you are in violation of the ADA and could potentially be sued by such a group.
I have personally encountered this problem in many retail stores and the list of excuses is endless.
The Americans with Disabilities Act is more than 20 years old. It's time to get with the program.
Annette Bourbonniere
401-846-1960
Fax: 401-846-1944
Twitter: @AccessInclude
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