Independence is the one thing that disabled people wish to have, especially when it comes to using the bathroom.
The bathroom area is a private space where handicapped people would like to handle themselves without any external help. You have to make sure the bath area is accessible so that they don’t have any challenges while using the toilet.
According to the rules, public bathrooms need to have sufficient accessibility so that any kind of people can use the bathroom without any hassle. So, it implies that while constructing a home bathroom for disabled people, you should implement the same rules too.
Before we dive in, let’s discuss the challenges people with disabilities face in traditional bathrooms.
- Not having wheelchair accessibility
- Not having enough grab rails to push and pull themselves
- Non-accessible mirrors and toilet papers
- Not having non-slippery mats
- Difficult to access soap bars, towels, etc., if they are put on high shelves.
Unless a person is aiding disabled people, you cannot expect them to independently go to the bathroom and handle the business themselves. So, making essential changes to traditional bathrooms is necessary.
Essential Accessibility Features:
- Wheelchair accessibility
If a person is using a wheelchair, the entire equipment should easily go through a bathroom door. And there should be enough space in the bath area to easily wheel through. Make sure the bathroom you are renovating has wide doorways, a spacious layout, and floor clearance.
You can clear the first obstacle of going to the bathroom by having a designated path for people who use wheelchairs. Coming in and out will be so easy if you can construct according to the dimensions of the wheelchair.
- Grab bars
To use the toilet, disabled people need support to pull themselves up and sit on it. There should be enough grab bars near the toilet both vertical and horizontal so that it provides convenience to the users. There are a variety of rods you can install in the bathroom to facilitate the usage of handicapped people.
- Accessible fixtures
The sinks, toilets, showers or tubs should be at a reachable height so that they use them without any difficulty. For instance, a sink should be at an accessible-height while also having space beneath so that the wheelchair can fit in. The same rules apply to toilets and showers.
The toilets should have a tilting mechanism and toilet paper should be a reachable height. The toilet should be surrounded by enough grab rails. Also, while using the shower, the shower stall should have enough space so that the person can easily sit on the shower chair without any difficulty. It should also have a removable shower head, anti-slip mats, and grab rails for hassle-free showering.
- Non-slip flooring and other safety features
While doing bathroom renovations for handicapped people, never compromise on the safety features. Make sure the floor is anti-slippery and has other safety features. Place anti-slip mats, grab rods, wheelchair locking facility, etc.
Hiring Contractors and Specialists
- Finding contractors
Normal home renovators may not be suitable for constructing a bathroom needed for disabled people. While hiring contractors, make sure they specialise in this kind of renovation. Research their experience and look into their past work to know if they are suitable to renovate.
- Working with occupational therapists
To get more ideas, you can talk with occupational therapists or accessibility consultants to learn what disabled people need while accessing a bathroom. They can show and tell you the places that are hard to use and what you can do to have easy access.
- Building codes and regulations
You can also have an overview of building codes and regulations that are designed for handicapped people. Adhering to the rules will let you have bath spaces that can be used by any kind of people. If you are building an apartment, make sure to follow the rules so that you don’t face any legal problems later.
You can never imagine the difficulty faced by disabled people in accomplishing their daily tasks. Constructing a disabled-friendly bathroom means you are doing them a huge favour by letting them use the bathroom without any external help. It gives a sense of independence and they feel some of their burden is lessened.
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