Why ADA Compliance Matters — An Interview with Attorney Brandon Rotbart

An ADA compliance lawyer on lawsuits, common violations, and protecting your rights.

Editor’s note: While this interview focuses on ADA law in the United States, many of the insights are valuable beyond U.S. borders. Readers outside the U.S. may find that the challenges, enforcement approaches, and accessibility practices discussed here mirror or compare to disability rights legislation in their own countries.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been in place for more than three decades, yet confusion about what it covers — and how it’s enforced — is still surprisingly common. Many people assume the government is out there inspecting hotels, restaurants, and shops for accessibility compliance. The truth? Enforcement most often comes through lawsuits brought by disabled individuals themselves.

To help cut through the confusion, I recently spoke with Brandon Rotbart, an ADA compliance lawyer based in Miami. Brandon has spent over a decade handling ADA Title III cases — the section of the law that covers guests, patrons, and customers in places open to the public. His insights are eye-opening, especially for those in hospitality, travel, and retail industries.

Brandon’s path to ADA law is a story in itself. After starting out in criminal and family law, he discovered ADA enforcement work through his father-in-law, who was also a lawyer in the field. What struck him wasn’t just the legal challenges, but the human side: clients who were kinder, cases that felt more meaningful, and outcomes that genuinely changed lives.

In our conversation, Brandon clears up some of the most persistent misunderstandings around ADA:

• Who really enforces the law? (hint: it’s not the DOJ)

• Why lawsuits don’t cost disabled individuals money

• The most common ADA violations in hotels (bathrooms and bed accessibility top the list)

• How digital accessibility is becoming a major frontier

He also shared practical advice for anyone who believes their rights under the ADA have been violated: document everything immediately — photos, video, even recordings of interactions with staff if needed — and then speak with an ADA lawyer.

What stood out most to me was his mix of pragmatism and determination. ADA cases aren’t always complicated: either the ramp is too steep or it isn’t, the doorway is wide enough or it’s not. But behind every case is a person who simply wants equal access, and Brandon makes it clear that enforcing the law is the only way progress happens.

This is an interview worth reading — whether you’re a business owner trying to understand your obligations, or someone who has faced accessibility barriers firsthand.