ADA Frequently Asked Questions
Category: Title III: Places of Public Accommodations
Question: #40
Are stores required to provide personal shopping assistance?
Answer:
It depends. If a store offers personal shopping assistance to customers without disabilities, than this service must be accessible to customers with disabilities. However, if the store does not offer personal shopping services, they are generally not required to provide them to a person with a disability. Title III of the ADA requires businesses to provide equal access to goods and services. It does not require a store to provide personal devices (hearing aids, wheelchairs, etc.) or personal services (assistance in eating, toileting, shopping, etc.).
This does not mean a store would not need to comply with other relevant ADA requirements, such as making reasonable modifications or providing auxiliary aids and services. For example, a store employee could be asked to read a label to someone who is blind or retrieve items from a high shelf for a person with dwarfism. If these requests would not result in an undue burden or fundamental alteration of the business, they would generally be expected to provide them.
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This does not mean a store would not need to comply with other relevant ADA requirements, such as making reasonable modifications or providing auxiliary aids and services. For example, a store employee could be asked to read a label to someone who is blind or retrieve items from a high shelf for a person with dwarfism. If these requests would not result in an undue burden or fundamental alteration of the business, they would generally be expected to provide them.
Resource(s):
