Every entrance should welcome every customer.
The Accessible Austin Initiative runs a free, community-based Entryway Access Check for local businesses — a simple 9-point walkthrough that recognizes accessible entrances with a sticker and a spot in our public directory.
What the Entryway Access Check is
A trained AAI volunteer visits your entrance in person — or reviews photos you submit — and checks it against nine straightforward, physical criteria. The whole walkthrough takes about 15 minutes and covers:
- Step-free entry — no steps, or a compliant ramp, at the main entrance.
- Door clear width — enough clearance for a wheelchair or mobility device to pass through.
- Threshold height — a low, wheel-friendly transition at the doorway.
- Clear path to the door — an unobstructed route from the sidewalk or parking area.
- Accessible parking or drop-off — a van-accessible space or a safe, close drop-off point.
- Lever-style door handles — hardware that doesn't require a tight grip or twisting motion.
- Interior maneuvering space — enough room just inside the door to turn a wheelchair.
- Signage — clear direction to the accessible entrance, if it isn't the main one.
The full nine-point checklist is available on request — get in touch if you'd like the complete criteria ahead of a visit.
7–9 of 9 criteria met
Requires step-free entry, adequate door width, and a low threshold, plus at least four other criteria. Businesses at this tier receive our top-tier window sticker and a featured directory listing.
4–6 of 9 criteria met
Recognizes real, meaningful progress. Businesses receive a "Working Toward Access" sticker, a directory listing, and a short, specific list of the easiest next steps.
102,000 neighbors are counting on open doors.
Austin is home to more than 102,000 residents with disabilities — a population that has grown 30% over the past decade. Most local businesses remain physically underserved, often because no one has ever pointed out the small, fixable things. The Entryway Access Check is the grassroots, storefront-facing arm of the broader Accessible Austin Initiative, which also works on citywide accessibility policy with Austin City Council and the Mayor's Committee.
Learn about AAI