April is when facility teams get serious. HVACs get checked. Walls get repainted. Sidewalk cracks and potholes get filled. It’s all part of the seasonal reset that prepares buildings for summer operations.
But while you’re freshening things up, it’s worth asking: Are we finally addressing those access issues that have been on the list for years?
You know the ones—heavy doors, worn signage, broken auto-openers. Easy to put off. Easy to justify delaying. Until someone speaks up. Or can’t get in.
This spring, you’ve already got the team and the budget moving. It’s the ideal time to take care of the access gaps that are costing you—whether anyone’s told you or not.
What Gets Missed (and Why It Matters)
Even well-run facilities have blind spots when it comes to accessibility. The most common ones?
- Doors with resistance levels far above ADA recommendations
- Missing or outdated signage, especially tactile or directional
- Auto-openers that were installed five years ago and haven’t worked in two
- Walkway slopes that don’t look steep—but are unusable for a wheelchair
- “Accessible” restrooms that don’t actually support independent use
These issues aren’t always caught in annual reviews. But they’re noticed—by visitors, by employees, by anyone who interacts with your facility differently. They’re also liabilities. And they’re part of your brand, whether you see them or not.
Small Upgrades That Make a Big Difference
A handful of minor projects can improve usability for everyone:
- Replacing knobs with lever handles
- Recalibrating door closers to reduce force
- Adding high-contrast, tactile signage
- Verifying accessible routes between primary destinations
- Upgrading restroom fixtures and confirming appropriate reach range
They don’t require a major renovation. But they do require intention.
Seasonal Maintenance Is the Right Moment
Spring is when you already have capital budgets in motion. Facility evaluations are scheduled. Vendors are onsite. Instead of waiting for an “accessibility initiative,” use the momentum you already have.
For example:
- If you’re fixing door closers, review hardware choices at the same time.
- If you’re repainting, take the opportunity to use contrasting colors and update signage for visibility and clarity.
- If you’re resurfacing walkways, confirm slope compliance and repair transitions.
Accessibility doesn’t need to be carved out as its own line item. When built into existing maintenance cycles, it becomes more cost-effective, less disruptive, and more likely to get done.
This Is About More Than Compliance
Too often, accessibility is reduced to a checklist. But future-ready facilities think beyond minimum standards. They treat universal design as part of operational excellence.
Why?
- Because it reduces risk—legal and reputational.
- Because it extends usability to more people, with less need for accommodation.
- Because it reflects the values your organization already claims to support.
Making these improvements isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing smarter, sooner.
If you’re planning work this spring, this is your window. Make it count—before another year goes by with the same barriers still in place.
Need help identifying what matters most? Let’s schedule a site review together.
