2022
Caption: Writing Accessible Bathroom with photo surrounded by the icons of a deaf person, baby, elder person, blind person, expectant mother, and a wheelchair user (photo credit Pixabay.com)
As part of our advocacy, #OneAccessibility, we shall share information about disability issues, inclusion, and/or accessibility features on Maps. Look out every week for this enlightening post.
Hello Accessibility Enthusiasts and other Local Guides!
Welcome to this week's Accessibility Uncovered post! The accessibility topic for the month of April is Accessible Housing features in our areas. In this opportunity, I would like to talk about accessible bathrooms.
Who will need an accessible bathroom? If one of our family members is in a wheelchair, has other requirements related to mobility, expectant mothers, a person with deafness, a person with blindness, an elder person, and children. The bathroom is part of the house that needs some adjustment to create a useable space for those with physical limitations to support their needs.
Please note: the ADA requirements do NOT apply to private residences but the guidelines will be very useful in determining the needs of your family also it may need to follow the city guidelines, please check the city code where you reside
Let’s talk about what a standard bathroom in most places, will be included: door, light, sink, toilet, hand bars, shower, and cabinet (upper and lower).
For wheelchair users: the bathroom has to be able to accommodate a wheelchair to turn around easily without hitting any wall or bumping your toes.
The handicap bathroom door has to be wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through. In small and tight spaces, the door should open out from the bathroom
Bathroom lighting: the switches must be within reach of a wheelchair user, or right by the wall as soon as you enter the bathroom for elder and expectant mothers, motion sensor light or voice control light can be very useful for the person with blindness and others.
Accessible bathroom sink: the sink has to have clearance for the wheelchair beneath the bowl. Suggested to have wall-mounted sink is a good option. Please keep in mind that if the person has a bending problem and is able to walk a tall sink will suit the needs very well.
Accessible bathroom toiles: A toiled with the same level as the wheelchair will be ideal for transferring. For expectant mothers, a small step or footstool will help to rest their feet while taking their business.
Accessible Showers or Bathtubs: If the PwDs are able to stand for a lengthy time and are able to step into the tub but the person will not be able to stand for a length of time PwDs needs hand bars to support her/himself and a removable shower chair will be helpful. If PwDs is not able to stand and step into the tub, curbless showers or roll-in shower stall will fit best.
Please note that bathtub mats will prevent PwDs from falling from the slippery bathtub floor also very helpful for the person with blindness and expectant mothers, children, or even an elder person.
Hand bars or grab bars: this is very important to support balance transferring from the wheelchair to the bathtub or toilet. It is very important to install the bars properly with appropriate heights.
Accessible Cabinets: make sure to install cabinets that are accessible for wheelchair users or others. Keep the door open less likely for PwDs to struggle to open the cabinet.
To learn more in detail about accessible bathrooms, please check ADA Compliance for Accessible Bathroom and the UN Enable Standards for Bathroom & Toilets.
Our last month's topic was Accessible Road Features. You can read last week's article by @MukulR regarding [Pedestrian’s Safety Island].
How is the accessible bathroom in your area? Please share in the comment below. Thanks a bunch!
If you have a question, suggestion, or contribution, feel free to comment below. You can read and check the list of our other articles under "Accessibility Uncovered".
Thanks a lot for sharing this nice post with an important topic @Erna_LaBeau . Most of the house owners are not careful about making accessible bathroom in their house. They think it expensive, I think. Anyway, you described everything very nicely about the accessible housing bathroom.
I found this nice accessible bathroom in one of our bus stands during my meet-up on Accessibility. From this, I can understand how easy it is to make a bathroom accessible in our house.
