#accessible bathroom

[this-is-accessibility]

All bathroom stalls should be big enough for wheelchairs to fit through because as someone who is fat, I hate having to fit into those tiny stalls and also people who need the accessibility stall shouldn't have to wait for the one singular stall given

This is a very good point and idea!

I also think that bathroom stalls should not have doors that swing inward, or if they do there should be a mandatory amount of space between the door swing and the toilet so there is room to maneuver. Because I understand that a door that swings outward has the potential to hit someone.

Public bathrooms need a lot of help to become more accessible, for everyone!

Here in the U.S.A. (I have not been to other places) there are consistently gaps on both sides of the door as well as below the door and "walls", and sometimes the stall is such a height that a tall person would be eye level above the door!

I have seen a person with dwarfism that I follow (cannot remember who unfortunately) has mentioned that the gap below the stall walls and doors is so large that with their stature they feel exposed as well! Which means that children using the facilities are vulnerable in the same way. Also children are known to try and look under those gaps, and I think they just need to be done away with entirely.

Description of an ideal accessible bathroom under the cut! Feel free to tell me if I missed something! Also I realized I said "mandatory" a lot while writing this, so I changed my wording and you can just assume that I think this should be an enforced standard.

These are ideas for Accessibility!

I think that the ideal public stall bathroom should not be gendered, have stalls that reach all the way to the floor, and if there is a gap at the top it needs to be only a space between the walls and ceiling and tall enough that nobody can reasonably see over. This can also ensure that the stalls must be lit sufficiently.

Of course the locks on the doors must work properly and be reachable for everyone, maybe having multiple heights of lock options on the same stall? The tissue rolls should spin freely and there should be a trash disposal in each stall, both easily reachable from either sitting on the toilet or standing. Coat hooks on the back of the doors are also essential I think, and at multiple heights so they are usable from various positions and statures.

The stalls should be large enough for a wheelchair, and/or have multiple very large stalls (instead of just one) even if there are ones that are not fully wheelchair sized. Having "very large" stalls with enough space for a wheelchair and assistant to maneuver is incredibly important. Even the "smaller" ones should have room to maneuver easily even while opening and closing the door, potentially with a child or service animal. There should also be grab bars in every stall for ease of sitting and standing, even if the user doesn't need space for additional gear or accommodations. The flushing mechanism should of course be easily reachable and understandable, even if automatic, as sometimes the motion sensors fail and a manual flush is needed.

Any baby changing stations should be inside stalls, not in the public area. They should also be inspected for safety and usability, and have liners and a trash available just like the toilets.

Outside of the stalls there should be sink options of multiple heights, with step stools also available, and the soap should be reachable from varying positions and statures while using the sinks. Also mandatory should be multiple options for drying hands, such as air dryers and paper towels, and accessible to varying statures. Air dryers and towel dispensers need to be inspected for usability just like everything else. If there is going to be a mirror there should at least be a full length one on the wall somewhere, especially if there is also one above the sinks.

Additionally I think that having an accessible "family" bathroom that is a completely separate individual room is still essential. This room should be at the very least as large as the "very large" stall, and have a changing table and full length mirror as well as the multiple soap and drying options for reachability. Having a sink that is usable from a sitting position as well as a step stool available is a good median to make the single sink accessible to everyone of varying statures.

Again, that's all I can think of right now, so let me know if I missed anything!

Edit: Additions from @decadentqueentidalwave!

"I have 4 things to add. A braille map of the bathroom outside the bathroom, with braille on the inside. An adult changing table. A ceiling hoist. Finally, the wheelchair stalls should have a sink. It’s no fun pushing a wheelchair with dirty hands."

I think one thing that public places could absolutely do quickly and easily to start is putting hand sanitizer dispensers in the large stalls and by changing tables. Since people do have to touch their equipment and their young children, let's add a quick (if imperfect) measure to lessen germ spread.

Thank you for the additions, this is Accessibility!

[intersexcat-tboy]

I remember many times crying in the accessible bathroom in my highschool due to how much pain I was in. Emotionally and physically. There were numerous gendered bathrooms, but only three accessible ones—two of them were right next to each other, and all on the first floor. The men's would only have 1 stall, and the women's were either full or full of harassment

To have to get across the entire building, already disabled, to HOPE the bathrooms were open (as they were mainly for accessibility for that wing), and if not, having my bathroom usage monitored by the nurse, who may not let me in "in case someone needs it".

[youngchronicpain]

Good post about the accessible stall in the bath room. How do you feel about people who aren't necessarily disabled but just fat using the accessible stall? Sometimes it can be hard for some people to fit in the standard ones.

I think anyone who cannot safely or comfortably use the standard sized stalls should have access to a stall that they can use. I honestly wish that there were more size inclusive options besides the accessible stall. But I feel that if it is a person's only comfortable option, then they are okay to use it.

[rhymeswithfart]

Hope I'm not encroaching on these tags to ask these questions. I'm working on an informational piece for disability pride month about accessibility. more info and questions under cut:

I was going to show an example of an inaccessible place, then an example of an accessible one for each installment. F.E., an entrance blocked by stairs vs. an entrance with a ramp. I was going to have categories for each section as follows:

Accessibility means Everyone can get in and out

Bathrooms are usable for everyone

Everyone can be in the area without endangering themselves/being in put in pain

Everyone can access emergency exits

Does anyone have critique/suggestions on what should be included in this work? I want to make this as helpful and accurate as possible.

[meirmakesstuff]

Anyone want to buy a wheelchair-accessible condo in southwestern Connecticut?

[shadyquotesforhealthfitness]

This is a form that can be filled out in order to both evaluate businesses and provide necessary information to anyone who is concerned about accommodations. I created this form for the purpose of creating an accessibility review blog for my local area, but I would love if other people were able to use it.

Feel free to use and spread.

@accessibilityfails This blog was largely responsible for my coming up with the idea

[Image Description: Two photos showing two laminated pages with the following text... "Accessibility Review

Location: (blank space)

Address: (blank space)

Parking Access

Parking? Yes or No. Location type: Lot / Street / Other (blank space)

Accessible Parking? Yes or No. Distance from Entrance: (blank space)

Any Barriers or Obstacles from Parking to Entrance: (blank space)

Public Access

Sidewalk to entrance? Yes or No. Condition: (blank space)

Bike stands? Yes or No

Nearest Bus Stop: (blank space) Distance from entrance: (blank space)

Business name/logo/address clearly visible? Yes or No

Entrance/Exit Access

Most accessible entry point: (blank space)

Accessible doors? Yes or No. Type of accessible door: Auto / Small Button / Large Vertical Button

Curb or step? Yes or No (number of) Inches. Stairs? Yes or No (number of) Steps

Ramp? Yes or No. Incline? Good / Okay / Steep

Any other usable entrance/exit points: (blank space)

Indoor Access

Enough Space to Maneuver Mobility Aids? Yes or No

If not, state reasons or obstacles: (blank space)

Floor Texture: Rough, Matte (safer for cane users) / Smooth, Shiny (more hazardous for cane users)

Uneven Flooring? Yes or No. If so, how severe: Slight Sloping / Noticeable Sloping

Seating Available? Yes or No. Type of Seating: (blank space)

Additional Floors? Yes or No. Elevator Access? Yes or No

Bathroom Access

Bathroom? Yes or No. Customer Only? Yes or No. Accessible Stall? Yes or No

Accessible Bathroom? Yes or No. Accessible Door? Yes or No

Accessible Amount of Space? Yes or No

Grab Bar? Yes or No. Placement: (blank space)

Change Table/Area? Yes or No. Supports: Children Only / Children or Adults

Sink/Soap/Towels Reachable by Wheelchair? Yes or No

Any Additional Features or Issues: (space for writing)

Available Accommodations

Disability Services? Yes or No. Contact for Accommodations: (blank space)

Sign Language Interpreting (specify): (blank space)

Spoken Language Interpreting (specify): (blank space)

Subtitles: In Spoken Language / Other: (blank space)

Mobility Aids: Borrow / Rent ($_____). Electric Cart / Electric Chair / Manual Chair / Walker

Sensory Information

Lighting: Bright / Well Lit / Dim Direct / Indirect. Florescent / Incandescent / Other

Loud Sounds? Yes or No Continuous? Yes or No. Description: (blank space)

Background Sounds: (space for writing)

Scents: (space for writing)

Temperature: Above 24C / 24C – 21C / Below 21C

Air Quality: Clear / Dusty / Smoky / Other: (blank space). Well Ventilated / Adequate / Stuffy

Praise, or pleasant surprises: (space for writing)

Criticisms, or negative experiences: (space for writing)

End Image Description]

[this-is-accessibility]

I saw a youtube short the other day of an accessible bathroom, I think in South Korea? It had handrails by the sink specifically! It's not something I've ever seen, but I honestly think it's a great idea - I tend to get dizzy right after standing, sometimes with a bit of delay, which means I often end up collapsing onto the sink at least a little. Having hand rails there, especially allowing me to avoid touching my aids with gross bathroom hands ans having to clean and dry them after, is something I never considered. But now I want to see it in every accessible bathroom! I'm sure there are plenty of other folks who would also benefit so much from something like that!

This is Accessibility!

That is a very neat idea and something I also haven't seen, but would appreciate being more common. -R.

[this-is-accessibility]

multiple bathrooms for disabled people, some bigger and some smaller.

I love that i can go around with my crutches or a wheelchair in a big bathroom, but sometimes i also like being able to push against the walls to get up

Yes absolutely!

I just answered another bathroom related ask in my last post and described an accessible public bathroom, as far as I can think of.

Please do let me know if I missed anything!

These are ideas for Accessibility!