The Entryway Access Check is a free, community-run program from the Accessible Austin Initiative (AAI). We visit local businesses, take a quick look at the entryway and immediate layout, and recognize the ones that are already welcoming to people with mobility, vision, or other access needs. Businesses that participate receive a window/door sticker and a listing on the AAI community directory, so neighbors can see at a glance that this business is making an effort.
This is not a legal ADA or WCAG compliance audit, and it does not replace one. We are not a certifying body, and the sticker does not constitute legal proof of compliance. It is a starting point — a way for businesses to show the community they are paying attention to access, and a nudge toward the bigger changes a full professional audit might recommend.
Entry slope and step-free access, door width and opening force, threshold height, clear path to the entrance, door handle type, interior maneuvering space just inside the door, and signage if the main entrance isn’t the accessible one. The full checklist is available on request.
Small entryway barriers — a heavy door, a single step, a narrow path — quietly keep people out, even when a business wants to be welcoming. This program helps Austin business owners see those barriers clearly, celebrates the businesses already getting it right, and helps the community find spaces that work for them.