Celebrating 20 Years in Business • 2004 - 2024

Your Responsibilities Under the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public spaces. It also ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to employment and consumer opportunities. Most people know that the ADA applies to physical spaces, but not everyone knows that business websites should also be accessible. Title III of the ADA addresses how businesses serve customers in physical locations and online. Let’s start there.

Websites

It’s important — not to mention beneficial — to provide an accessible and inclusive online experience for all existing and potential customers. An accessible website has:

  • Alternative formats to accompany audio, video or text content. These formats may include clearly labeled buttons, captions, transcripts and alt text behind images, all of which allow screen reader technology to read web content aloud. An automated tool like accessWidget can assist with this.
  • No content known to trigger seizures. This includes content that flashes more than three times a second.
  • Checkout features that are designed with clear messages in case of an error, and no processes that include many complex steps.
  • Online documents that are configured to be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use built-in testing features available in Adobe Acrobat for PDFs and Microsoft Office for Word. Both will flag accessibility issues for you to remediate.

To be sure your site is accessible, use an ADA-compliant software tool like accessScan. It can help you test for free to ascertain whether your small business website is ADA compliant. You submit your website’s URL and the tool will run a quick audit of your web page, highlighting website elements that require further attention.

Your physical location

Under the ADA, small businesses are responsible for:

  • Ensuring equal access to goods and services. Be sure you have ample accessible parking spaces and loading zones. You also need to be sure that your restrooms, sales counters and tables are accessible. Then look at your aisles: Are they wide enough for wheelchairs to navigate?
  • Modifying physical space to avoid barriers. This includes installing wheelchair ramps, redoing bathrooms, creating Braille signage, adding audio/visual aids for people with hearing/vision impairments and creating a policy for service animals.

Physical space is not the only way your business can show its commitment to the ADA. Your employees should be adequately trained on how to recognize, respond to and support customers with disabilities so that every customer has a positive experience. Not only is this good for business, it helps mitigate the possibility of facing legal recourse for noncompliance. Keep tabs on best practices for interpersonal responses and make sure your insights trickle down to all employees.

Your employees

Title I of the ADA provides that qualified people with disabilities must be treated equally and should be accommodated in all areas of employment; this includes creating equal application and interview processes as well as the necessary assistance and tools so people with disabilities can properly perform their jobs.

Under the ADA, an individual with a disability must be qualified and able to perform essential functions when provided with reasonable accommodations. These accommodations might include:

  • Choosing accessible locations for interviews and tests.
  • Ensuring that application tests don’t require the use of a person’s impaired skill unless the test is designed to measure that skill.
  • Providing written materials in accessible formats: large print, braille or audiotape.
  • Considering assistive technology, sign language interpreters or large-print communications.
  • Making existing facilities accessible, such as by installing ramps or ergonomic workstations.
  • Creating a service animal policy.
  • Allowing for a part-time schedule.

During the interview process, you’re allowed to tell all applicants what the hiring process involves and to ask whether they will require reasonable accommodation. But you cannot ask candidates with disabilities questions that you don’t ask other candidates — that means you are not allowed to ask specific questions about health conditions, medications or sick days. Any medical information shared during the hiring process must remain confidential.

If you think of accommodations as productivity enhancers rather than special treatment, you might be surprised: Ergonomic workstations, for example, will likely be welcomed by all employees. Other accommodations will help you communicate with customers with disabilities. The solutions you offer may benefit more people than you think.

Be sure to check out www.ada.gov for more information.

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Emily Gooding

Payroll Specialist

Emily is graduating in May with a BA in Business Administration from Lander University. She has gained valuable experience as a payroll intern for BMW. We are so excited to have her on the team and  to see her excel in her role as a Payroll Specialist.

Madison Capps​

Payroll Specialist

Madison received a BS in Psychology from Southern Illinois University in 2019. Since then, she has been working as a supervisor at Starbucks and earning her second degree, a BA in Administration and Accounting, from USC Aiken in the fall. She will be joining us as a Payroll Specialist and a valuable addition to our Paysmart team.

Kristen Wilby

Payroll Specialist

Before moving to South Carolina with her husband, Kristen worked as a Sales & Marketing Specialist for Premium King in Feasterville, PA, where she gained valuable experience in strengthening the brand and generating new business. Kristen also brings to our team several years of professional experience as an Executive Assistant and as an Office Manager, where she was first introduced to payroll. Kristen’s knowledge and her innate ability to establish genuine relationships contribute greatly to the team as we continue to grow and serve our clients.

Meg Whitaker

Payroll Specialist

Meg brings nearly twenty years of professional experience to the team. Most recently, she worked as a Payroll & Benefits Specialist in Centennial, Colorado. She and her husband recently moved back to the Carolinas for his job, and we were fortunate to find her! Before Colorado, Meg worked at CPI Security Systems in Charlotte, NC, for twelve years as a Billing Coordinator and Senior Administrative Assistant. She also gained three years of experience as an HR Assistant for a law firm in Fayetteville, NC. Her expertise significantly adds to our team and benefits our clients as we continue to grow!

Rachel McClaran, EA

Partner

Rachel plays a crucial role in developing Paysmart’s core processes and procedures, as well as overall strategy within the company. Rachel graduated from Bob Jones University and is an active member of the Junior League of Greenville and the South Carolina Association of CPAs. Her desire to serve her community has led her to become involved with several nonprofit organizations and to serve as the past Vice President of Finance for the Junior League of Greenville. Outside of the office,Rachel enjoys spending time on the water and traveling with her husband and their two children.

Hina Rogers

Payroll Specialist

Hina joined the Paysmart team in August 2022. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Greenville, SC. She earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education. After college, she represented her alma mater as an enrollment counselor in the Southeast and Western states. She enjoys traveling, road trips, cooking, and quality time with her family. Hina looks forward to serving your company’s needs! 

Sharon Quantrille

Payroll Specialist

Sharon has spent several years in the accounting industry and has completed courses to hone her skills as a Payroll Specialist. Her background as an educator, professional musician, and Human Resources Generalist has contributed to her communication skills, commitment to professionalism, and organizational skills that make her a tremendous benefit to her Paysmart clients and colleagues. A graduate of Bob Jones University with a B.S. degree in Music Education, a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and a Human Resources Generalist Certificate, Sharon spends her free time gardening, hiking, playing the piano, and spending time with her four adult children.

Haleigh Bates

Payroll Specialist

Haleigh joined our team in May of 2022 as a payroll specialist. Haleigh has over eight years of experience helping personal and small business clients with their financial needs. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia Southern University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children, Caden, Addie, and Mason.  She likes to go hiking, spend time at the beach, and volunteer at her church in the children’s ministry. 

Courtney Rossello

Payroll Tax Manager

Courtney joined the team at Paysmart Payroll Services in September 2020.  She was raised in Simpsonville, SC, and graduated from Clemson University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a concentration in public administration.  Courtney began her payroll career in 2011 and currently works in the payroll tax department at Paysmart.  She strives to make every client feel comfortable knowing their payroll taxes and tax returns are handled accurately and efficiently.  Courtney is also a volunteer Treasurer for a local middle school in Greenville County.  In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with special needs children, road trips, and spending time with her two daughters. 

Emily Hargrave

Senior Payroll Specialist

Emily received her bachelor’s degree in music from West Coast Baptist College. Since her college days, Emily has gained nearly 18 years of experience in office operations and project management. Emily joined Paysmart in 2017 and enjoys using her skills to support clients and the Paysmart team.

 At heart, Emily is a small-town country girl from the Midwest but is happy now to call the Upstate home, where she doesn’t have to endure harsh winters. Emily’s favorite ways to spend her free time are reading a good book, challenging herself with puzzles, and doing her best not to kill the plants in her garden.

Julie Shull

Client Success Specialist

Julie is the Client Success Specialist for Paysmart Payroll.  She joined the team as a Payroll Specialist in March of 2020. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from NC State University and earned an MBA from Gardner-Webb University while playing on the GWU women’s tennis team. After starting her career with Wilson Sporting Goods as a Financial Analyst, she took a few years off to raise twin boys until she began working for Greenville County Schools in 2014.  Julie enjoys spending time with her family and outdoor activities.

Brad Detandt

Payroll Administrator

A graduate of Northland International University with a BA in Counseling, Brad Detandt leads the day-to-day operations of the Paysmart team. He is eager to grow the firm’s client portfolio. He brings a diverse employment background in retail, manufacturing, nonprofit ministries, and business development, with
a specialized focus on team development and process improvement. Brad’s professional – and personal – mission is to “Be Great. Serve!” Brad enjoys spontaneous activities and weekend trips to state parks with his wife Miranda and his three children.

Stephen C. Stokes

Managing Partner

Stephen has more than 14 years’ experience working with individuals and businesses to meet their tax, accounting, and payroll needs. He has been the managing partner of Paysmart Payroll Services since January 2009. He is a licensed certified public accountant in South Carolina and Georgia. Stephen is also a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the Georgia Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the Professional Association of Small Business Accountants. He has a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. Stephen was born and raised near Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Greenville, South Carolina, several years ago. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Tiffani, and daughters, Madeline and Julianna. He is actively involved in his church and enjoys reading, sports, and other outdoor activities.