Advocates and major retailers, including Walmart, are backing new guidance to make stores more accessible, as The Access Coalition releases practical tools to help businesses go beyond ADA minimums and design physical spaces that better serve people with disabilities and the wider public.
Key Takeaways
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Big brands back inclusive design: The Access Coalition, whose members include Walmart, Starbucks, CVS Health, Sam’s Club, and others, has published an Inclusive Spaces Playbook and updated checklist to give retailers a concrete blueprint for disability-inclusive environments.
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From framework to in-store practice: Originally introduced by Starbucks in 2024, the Inclusive Spaces Framework is now being expanded and operationalized through coalition resources that translate the lived experiences of people with disabilities into specific design and operational recommendations.
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Impact beyond retail storefronts: While rooted in retail, the coalition says its tools can guide nonprofits, governments, schools, and other organizations with physical locations.
