When the ADA was signed into law in July 1990, Joan Stein believed there was an opportunity and a need to educate the community about their obligations to accommodate more than 43 million Americans with disabilities. To assist them in doing that would not be an easy task.
Ms. Stein founded Accessibility Development Associates, Inc. (ADA, Inc.), a for-profit business to provide education and consulting services to all aspects of the community – business, corporate, educational, governmental, etc. With a small staff, Ms. Stein led ADA, Inc. to be a nationally recognized provider of expert ADA consulting services.
After closing ADA, Inc. in 2013 due to family medical issues, Ms. Stein created Stein Consulting, LLC in February, 2014. Following the same template, Stein Consulting has become a recognized source for a large component of the ADA landscape – “Drive-by lawsuits.” That is, law firms across the United States visit parking lots of large businesses, to identify a select number of alleged ADA violations. Then, they send a demand letter to the property owner, outlining these claims. In response, outside counsel engages Stein Consulting to conduct an ADA inspection, to either confirm or refute the allegations. The results of this inspection often serve as the foundation for achieving a successful resolution. Stein Consulting provides a wide range of education: customized programs, presentations at conferences, customer service training for staff, etc.
We are also a vital partner in the planning and execution of major sporting events. Since 2007, Stein Consulting has served as the National ADA Consultant for the United States Golf Association (USGA). In preparation for the upcoming 19th US Open in June 2025, Ms. Stein has reviewed the design and construction plans for all spectator amenities, and will lead a volunteer committee of 125 individuals throughout the duration of the tournament.
Stein Consulting prides itself on providing confidential, accurate, and thorough assistance throughout a client’s ADA compliance efforts.
Our credentials sheet is available here, and Joan’s resume is here.