Oneida County wants to be a welcoming destination for all visitors, so we’re encouraging our local businesses to review and expand their accessibility offerings.
Here’s why it makes sense to increase accessibility at your business and helpful resources you can take advantage of—including tax credits and grant programs.
Benefits
Improving accessibility at your business is an important goal and can bring several benefits, financial and otherwise.
- By including accessibility offerings at your business, you can reach a new audience and potentially expand your customer base
- There are tax incentives and grants available to businesses that make accessibility improvements (see the Resources section below for more details)
- It’s important to be in legal compliance with accessibility standards—proactively addressing accessibility issues shows that your business is inclusive and welcoming to all
- Addressing accessibility now sets your business up for success in the future as regulations and standards may change
Resources
There are many resources available for businesses looking to improve accessibility, from guidelines to training programs to financial assistance. Here are a few places to start:
- ADA National Network: Resources on compliance, best practices, and building accessibility
- S. Access Board: Guidelines for accessible businesses, training materials, and other resources
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Accessibility resources, support, and training
- Oneida County Planning & Zoning Department: Information on local building codes, permits, and resources for accessibility improvements
- Tax incentives, credits & grants
- Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities – 2024 Sparks Grants (applications open summer 2024)
- Accessibility Checker: Grants for ADA compliance
- ADA National Network: IRS credits available for accommodating customers with disabilities
- Small business funding for ADA accessibility compliance