ADA Compliance and Your ATMs
New standards for ATM terminals have been set into law with legislation passed under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and will go into effect on March 15, 2012. For customers with disabilities, the new regulations will make using ATMs easier than ever before, but what does it mean for Independent ATM Deployers or IADs to be in compliance with the new regulations?
Under federal law, IADs have until March 15, 2012 to make necessary upgrades to ATMs before enforcement is implemented. Any ATMs that don’t meet ADA standards by the 2012 deadline could result in a civil penalty of up to $55,000 for a first offense and double that amount for subsequent offenses.
Most of the new ADA requirements are focused on communication and how customers will interact with the ATM. To a lesser degree, other aspects of the new standards are centered around accessibility. Key areas of change include the following:
- Audio or Voice Guidance
- Visual / Screen Visibility & Display
- Tactile: Raised Key Surfaces, Braille Instructions, Keypads, and Function Keys
- ATM Placement / Height & Reach
- Clear Floor Space
It is also important to note that there is no grandfathering of currently deployed machines. In some instances, there may be cases where you need to upgrade or replace entire machines (generally older ATM models) in order to be compliant. In that case, make sure that the ATM you purchase, especially if it’s used or refurbished, is fully compliant.
New machines that are shipped from ATM manufacturers come fully ADA compliant. In addition, nearly all of the major retail manufacturers have recently started offering ADA upgrade kits to IADs. If you have questions about ATMs in your portfolio and the new ADA standards, contact the manufacturer directly.
A helpful resource can also be found at ada.gov.
