The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to help eliminate the widespread discrimination against people with disabilities in the United States. But ADA compliance is about more than just fair housing, hiring, and education; it’s also about accessibility.
While the rules did expand in 2010 to include accessible parking regulations, entrances, and service counters, the specifications didn’t cover all the instances and industries in which a disabled person might use a kiosk.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ADA COMPLIANT?
ADA Compliance refers to the accessibility standards required in the Americans with Disabilities Act. One purpose of ADA compliance is to ensure that “all electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities.” It is not just a suggestion for manufacturers of technology; it’s the law as well.
That is why Advanced Kiosks created our own set of standards – in conjunction with ADA compliance – that we follow for every kiosk we design. When it comes to accessibility and security, we are at the top of our game, delivering ADA compliant kiosks to meet the needs of all individuals in this ever-changing landscape of interactive technology.
WHY ARE ADA COMPLIANT KIOSKS IMPORTANT?
Our ADA compliant kiosks are tools for the public, and those tools must be accessible to everyone. We aim to set a standard for ourselves and kiosk software developers who may choose to partner with Advanced Kiosks.
Under the ADA, there are several specifications for the dimensions required to accommodate disabled people’s needs. Minimizing obstruction and positioning are instrumental in making ADA compliant kiosks. Although most people think ADA exists to assist individuals in wheelchairs, other disabled individuals benefit from these guidelines, such as individuals with vision or hearing impairment.
HOW DOES ADVANCED KIOSKS MEET THESE STANDARDS?
As a leading provider of self-service products for government agencies, we have extensive expertise in engineering ADA compliant kiosks. Every computer kiosk model that we build comes standard with the features and peripherals for ADA compliance and kiosk software options to accommodate users with and without special needs.
For instance, the interactive kiosks with the VoIP option can be helpful for vision-impaired users or outfitted with audio controls that assist the hearing impaired.
ADA FRIENDLY HARDWARE FEATURES
Position of the Kiosk
An interactive kiosk must allow unobstructed wheelchair access both forward and parallel.
Limits of Protruding Objects
A wall-mounted interactive kiosk must not impede the path of the user. This guideline aids individuals who are vision-impaired or using a cane.
Unobstructed Forward Reach
Providing unobstructed forward access for users from a wheelchair requires the kiosk to be a maximum of 48 inches tall and a minimum of 15 inches above the ground.
Obstructed High Forward Reach
When the interactive kiosk has a desk, table, or shelf, the guidelines require the clear floor space to extend beneath the element for a distance that allows an unobstructed forward reach of 48 inches.
Unobstructed Side Reach
When a wheelchair user must approach the interactive kiosk from the side, and there are no obstructions, the unobstructed forward reach measurements are required to be; a minimum of 15 inches from the ground and a maximum of 48 inches tall
Obstructed Side Reach
When a wheelchair user approaches an interactive kiosk from the side, and an obstruction exists, the obstruction’s height should be a maximum of 34 inches tall and 24 inches deep. The high side reach must be a maximum of 48 inches and reach a maximum depth of 10 inches. If the reach depth exceeds 10 inches, the high side reach must be a maximum of 46 inches.
ADA FRIENDLY KIOSK SOFTWARE FEATURES
Easy Access Kiosk Handicap Button
Self-service kiosks should have a button on the interface so the public is aware that it is accessible. These images are usually standardized to be made out, even by someone with poor eyesight. Our kiosk software has a button in the lower right corner of the screen for easy visibility and access.
Lower Position on Screen Keyboard
When the interactive kiosk requires the user to input text, our interface displays an easy-to-read onscreen keyboard positioned at the bottom of the screen, placing it within easy reach for users with impairments.
Lower Position Kiosk Navigation Bar
A consistent navigation bar at the top of the screen, including a home button, page forward and back, refresh, show the keyboard, and more is a feature of our Zamok Kiosk software. We designed the software to move the navigation bar to the bottom of the screen, easy access for disabled users if necessary.
We pride ourselves on building the most up-to-date, accessible hardware and software available, and as ADA compliance initiatives continue to grow, so will we!
Do you need assistance in selecting your interactive kiosk solution options, or do you require custom kiosk development? Contact us today! We are happy to answer your kiosk hardware and software questions and help you get the best possible self-service, ADA compliant results for all your customers and users.
