|
 Good access is good business.
Turning away or discouraging customers with inaccessible properties is not and it is illegal. The IRS provides tax credits to small businesses for removal of barriers to accessibility, under Section 44 of the IRS Code. The City of Joliet wishes to assist owners of commercial and residential rental properties in obtaining compliance with the law.
Click here to Download an Accessibility Brochure.
ACCESSIBILITY ORDINANCE
The City of Joliet is a proud supporter of the Accessible Cities Alliance.
In April, 2004, the City of Joliet adopted an Ordinance enacting the Joliet Accessibility Code (#14651) , which incorporates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Illinois Accessibility Code and Fair Housing Act. The City has since added to its Building Inspection Division an individual to conduct on site inspections to determine an individual businesses' level of compliance, or non-compliance, with those laws. Business and property owners are encouraged to review the Code and become familiar with, and incorporate, provisions of the Ordinance in order to become fully compliant with these laws.
All businesses are required to provide full access and reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, regardless of the age of the business or building. The ACA maintains an "Accessible Business Directory" and, with the City of Joliet, is eager to promote fully compliant businesses to persons with disabilities.
Business seeking information and resources on becoming compliant with federal, state or local accessibility laws are encouraged to contact:
Kevin Gahr, City of Joliet Building Inspection Division
815/724-4000
Pam Heavens, Accessible Cities Alliance, coordintated by the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living
2415-A. W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60435
815/729-0162 Voice or 729-2085 TTY
A broad range of valuable resources can be found on the ACA website, including the Department of Justice ( www.ada.gov), the Internal Revenue Service ( www.irs.gov) and the Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center ( www.adagreatlakes.org).
ACCESSIBLE PARKING FINE SIGN STICKERS
In March, 2006, the City of Joliet increased the fines for violation of handicapped parking spaces from $100 to $250. Businesses are required to post updated signage reflecting this change on their handicapped accessible postings in parking lots. Contact the following organization to order updated signage:
Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois (CCDI)
300 East Monroe, Suite 100
Springfield, IL 62701
217/522-7016, or via fax at 217/522-7024.
Click here to visit the Accessibble Cities Alliance website.
|
