A good accessibility report rises or falls on the evidence. Photos that don’t show dimensions, measurements taken with the wrong tool, and reports that forget to note the building’s age are the three most common reasons a complaint stalls. Here’s a short checklist to take with you.
Before you leave home
- Phone with GPS and a camera. The Report form on this site captures your coordinates automatically when you tap the “Use my location” button. Enable Location Services if you haven’t already.
- A retractable tape measure (25′ is plenty for nearly everything).
- A digital angle meter or a smartphone inclinometer for ramps, curb ramps, and sloped walks. Ramp running slope has to be no steeper than 1:12 (about 4.76°, or 8.33%); cross-slope on an accessible route has to be no steeper than 1:48 (about 1.19°, or 2.08%). Measure both.
- A door-force meter if you’re evaluating interior doors. Opening force for non-fire-rated interior doors can’t exceed 5 lbf. Fire doors set their own minimum, but the latch, push, and stop on non-fire interior doors is the 5-lbf limit.
- A notepad and pen. Yes, still. Handwritten notes are much faster than typing on a phone in the field.
On site: what to photograph
Aim for at least three shots per violation:
- A wide establishing shot that shows the feature in context (the parking space with the aisle to its side, the restroom stall with the door, the ramp with its landings).
- A close-up with a measurement visible — tape extended against the element, angle meter reading the slope, door-force meter pulled to its peak. The number in the photo is what makes the report auditable.
- A reference shot that includes the building address, a unit number, or a storefront sign so the location is unambiguous in the file.
What to write down
- The business name and exact address. Suite numbers matter; a complaint against “the third floor” isn’t specific enough.
- Date and approximate time. Conditions change; a violation observed at 2 p.m. on a Sunday may or may not exist on a weekday.
- What’s wrong in plain language before you reach for a code section. “The ramp is too steep — measured 9.5% running slope” is worth more than a citation to a spec number without a measurement.
- What you measured, with units. Always note which measurement standard you used (inches, centimeters, degrees, percent grade, ratio). The Guide on this site gives measurements in every form so you can cross-check.
- When the building was built and whether it’s been renovated. This is the single biggest piece of context people skip, and it changes whether the 1991 Standards or the 2010 Standards apply. See the safe-harbor cutoff dates for why.
What not to do
- Don’t confront the business. Beyond basic politeness, staff often can’t fix a parking lot. Document, don’t argue.
- Don’t guess at dimensions. “Looks like about three feet” is worth nothing; 34 inches measured with a tape is evidence.
- Don’t photograph people. Wait for a gap in foot traffic. The only human body that belongs in the frame is your own hand holding the tape.
- Don’t trespass. Stay in areas open to the public. Restrooms, dining rooms, retail floors, and parking lots open to customers are fair game; employee-only areas are not, for this purpose.
When you’re ready to submit
Go to the Report form. It’ll ask for the business and address, your GPS coordinates, the category (parking, restroom, entrance, etc.), severity, the date, a description, and up to five photos. Fill in the building-age fieldset — the form will show a live compliance-era hint as soon as you enter the year — and attach your photos from the field. Reports are reviewed by the site administrator; if you supply an email address, you’ll get a confirmation with a reference number.