SEPTEMBER 2025 | 53 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL and must comply with specific accessibility requirements. Title III requires that all new construction and new alterations provide accessible entrances, while existing structures must remove barriers where readily achievable, and it gives several examples to consider.22 Door and Doorway Requirements In general, door openings must provide a minimum clear width of 32 inches, as measured when the door is open to 90 degrees.23 The 2010 standards provide technical specifications for nearly every type of door and approach possible. Those specifications can be found in its various figures and tables.24 Along with approach, maneuvering space is a necessary consideration. These specifications can also be found in the above-referenced figures and tables. Door hardware presents another critical compliance area. Handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operating hardware must “be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, twisting of the wrist.”25 Leverstyle handles generally meet this requirement, while round doorknobs almost exclusively do not. The force required to open an entrance door is also a factor that should be considered. “The force required to activate operable parts shall be 5 pounds (22.2 N) maximum.”26 Threshold and Surface Requirements “Thresholds, if provided at doorways, shall be 1/2 inch (13 mm) high maximum.”27 The standards allow for an exception in existing or altered thresholds. Those may be a maximum of three-fourths inch high if they also have a beveled edge on each side that is not steeper than 1:2.28 The area immediately inside and outside of each door must have a level landing with specific dimensional requirements. Generally, the landing must extend at least 18 inches beyond the latch side of the door to allow for adequate maneuvering space.29 Floor surfaces at entrances to and throughout the interior of the law firm must be stable, firm and slip resistant.30 These seemingly minor details can make the difference between independence and dependence for clients with mobility impairments. Additional Entrance Considerations Law firms with multiple public entrances must carefully consider which entrances are accessible. While not every public entrance must be accessible, at least one accessible entrance must be provided.31 For ground-floor law offices, this typically means ensuring that the primary entrance is accessible. Best practices dictate making the primary entrance accessible whenever possible to avoid creating separate and potentially stigmatizing situations. RECEPTION AREAS: CREATING ACCESSIBLE SPACES Law firm reception areas serve multiple functions beyond simply being a client accommodation. They project the firm’s professional image, provide space for completing intake forms and often serve as the initial interface between a firm and its clients. Title III requirements for reception areas focus on ensuring that these spaces serve all clients equally. Seating and Clear Floor Space To the maximum extent feasible, reception areas should provide wheelchair-accessible seating options or designated clear floor32 space that can accommodate a wheelchair. It is important to arrange the reception area to provide adequate clear floor space for employees and clients who are wheelchair users to maneuver on a path of travel to other areas of the firm intended for their use. Reception Service Counter Access Service counters in reception areas must be accessible to individuals using wheelchairs.33 Alternative accommodations may include providing a nearby accessible surface for writing or document review or ensuring that staff can move to an accessible location to interact with clients who use wheelchairs. However, these alternatives should supplement – not replace – accessible counter design. Again, consider whether these alternatives might cause a client to feel stigmatized. RESTROOM ACCESSIBILITY: MEETING ESSENTIAL NEEDS Accessible restrooms are among the most technically complex areas of ADA compliance, yet they are essential for ensuring that clients and employees with disabilities can comfortably use law firm facilities. The 2010 standards provide extremely detailed specifications that address the needs of individuals with various types of mobility impairments when using public restrooms. Note: Specific exceptions apply to several of the requirements discussed herein. Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.
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