Even the best places can be problems
We had the opportunity to try out a large number of public restrooms on our recent drive through Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, Wyoming, Washington and Oregon. Traveling with someone in an electric wheelchair can be very eye-opening, especially when said person needs assistance in the stall. So I've put together a list of things builders can do to really make a public places more handicap accessible.
It's obvious to me that most places don't take this very seriously. They do the minimum they can to get by under the law. Fine. But after I'm done here maybe some will understand why the minimum isn't all that helpful. Some of these are fairly common sense but as we know, common sense and the law sometimes miss each other. You also have a chance to tell everyone about places you've found that fit the bill. Give these places some free advertising and maybe others will follow suit.
It's obvious to me that most places don't take this very seriously. They do the minimum they can to get by under the law. Fine. But after I'm done here maybe some will understand why the minimum isn't all that helpful. Some of these are fairly common sense but as we know, common sense and the law sometimes miss each other. You also have a chance to tell everyone about places you've found that fit the bill. Give these places some free advertising and maybe others will follow suit.
Contents
- 1. Toilet seats
- 2. Space in general
- 3. Trash cans
- 4. Sinks
- 5. Monstrously heavy doors
- 6. Hotel rooms in general
- Conclusion
- Support me and have fun
- Do you know of great accessible places?
- Know of great hotels?
- Know of great restaurants?
- Know of any other places?
- Your thoughts....
- More information on ALS and disability
1. Toilet seats
People with limited mobility in their legs or backs appreciate the hand rails, I'm sure. The rails are good to pull yourself up. However, the emphasis should also be on not having to pull so far. Higher toilet seats can go a long way. All of the seats we came across but one were the same height as all the others. When we did find a higher one, it was like a party in there. We're not asking for seats that automatically lift you, that might be a little much. Just make them higher and we'll be good. This also helps the caregiver who has to use body mechanics to lift the person off of the seat.
2. Space in general
Having one larger stall is fine. But remember that not all handicapped people can walk or are just down to a small walker. Some of us have to get wheelchairs in there, plus a caregiver. We love the restrooms that not only have plenty of space to get a wheelchair into the room itself and around it, but have a stall that the wheelchair can go into and turn easily while also having room for the caregiver to get in and help out. Just adding six inches to the sides for a rail is really no help at all.
3. Trash cans
Trash cans are awesome, we all know this. But not so good when left in the only path a wheelchair can take to get to a stall. Leaving that path completely open is a big help all by itself.
4. Sinks
Some people in wheelchairs can get into most sinks while sitting but may have to lean forward a lot, which can cause pain. For the truly handicap-conscious, one lower sink can be quite groovy. It's also helpful for the kiddies.
5. Monstrously heavy doors
When building a restroom do this little experiment. If you have to grunt or otherwise heave or put effort into opening the door, what good will it do for a person with limited strength and mobility? Those huge doors that seem to be on a vaccu-suck are horrendous if there's no caregiver around. A lot of these people are still able to go out on their own, so cut them a little slack on that door, will you?
6. Hotel rooms in general
Here's a small hint to hotel owners worldwide. If your room is tiny, the bathroom is small, and you have one hand rail on the wall, you shouldn't advertise handicap-accessible rooms. Those are hand rail rooms for those who can walk. If you want to be cool with the wheelchair program, here are some great ideas:
Put lots of room around the bed, at least on one side. We need room for a wheelchair to get in there and turn around. We also need to get past the desk if there is one. If all else fails we'll do without a table, so long as there's good space.
Walk in bathtubs or showers with no lip are fantabulous. Motel 6 is actually a king in our books for great handicap bathrooms, at least in the four or so we stayed in. They had showers you could easily transfer someone into with built in benches for the person to sit on, with removable shower heads to get a full cleaning. Wonderful. In fact we were totally thrilled with the Motel 6 rooms we used. That's only four or five of course so I can't speak on all of them, but those were great. The bathroom should also be pretty big, to get a wheelchair in and allow room for a caregiver to transfer someone to the toilet or shower. Of course, higher toilets also apply here.
No steps up into a room. We ran into one place we had to just leave because there were two concrete steps in front of every door. It is not ideal or possible to pick someone up out of a wheelchair, bring them in, and then bring in the wheelchair (ours only weighs several hundred pounds), and then repeat this anytime you come and go. We're not all bodybuilders.
Put lots of room around the bed, at least on one side. We need room for a wheelchair to get in there and turn around. We also need to get past the desk if there is one. If all else fails we'll do without a table, so long as there's good space.
Walk in bathtubs or showers with no lip are fantabulous. Motel 6 is actually a king in our books for great handicap bathrooms, at least in the four or so we stayed in. They had showers you could easily transfer someone into with built in benches for the person to sit on, with removable shower heads to get a full cleaning. Wonderful. In fact we were totally thrilled with the Motel 6 rooms we used. That's only four or five of course so I can't speak on all of them, but those were great. The bathroom should also be pretty big, to get a wheelchair in and allow room for a caregiver to transfer someone to the toilet or shower. Of course, higher toilets also apply here.
No steps up into a room. We ran into one place we had to just leave because there were two concrete steps in front of every door. It is not ideal or possible to pick someone up out of a wheelchair, bring them in, and then bring in the wheelchair (ours only weighs several hundred pounds), and then repeat this anytime you come and go. We're not all bodybuilders.
Conclusion
I know it's expensive to renovate sometimes, but let me tell you, when we come across great bathrooms, we're guaranteed to return to that place. We avoid places we can't get into, and if more public places went truly handicap-accessible, they might just get more business from those who gave up long ago. You can see one of my related lenses for rampvan owners at Life with a Rampvan.
Visit my blog at ALSCargiver.com for my experiences as a caregiver.
Visit my blog at ALSCargiver.com for my experiences as a caregiver.
Support me and have fun
This is a selection of designs in my Confused Shop. All the money I make from it goes to getting stuff for my mother's care. If you find something you like, we both win!
Do you know of great accessible places?
I have four feedback forms on this page: one for hotels, one for restaurants, one for other places and one for general feedback.
If you know of places that are very handicap-accessible, let's give them some free advertising so more places might follow suit! As I get more I might put up a list on my website.
If you know of places that are very handicap-accessible, let's give them some free advertising so more places might follow suit! As I get more I might put up a list on my website.
Know of great hotels?
Do you know of a hotel with great handicap rooms? Rooms with plenty of space for a wheelchair, handicap showers with benches and otherwise easy accessibility? If hotels see that they can get free advertising from us, others might be more willing to really get with the program! Please provide the name of the hotel and at least the city and state - the actual address would be awesome. Please only submit places in Northwest Arkansas, as those are the only ones we can check out. We're hoping that others will take up the charge and offer these types of pages for their area soon. When they do, we will link to them and hopefully make a network!
submit
Know of great restaurants?
Know of a restaurant where wheelchairs can get around easily and there is enough room in the stall for a chair and a caregiver? Say so here, and please provide as much information about where it is as possible. Please only submit places in Northwest Arkansas, as those are the only ones we can check out. We're hoping that others will take up the charge and offer these types of pages for their area soon. When they do, we will link to them and hopefully make a network!
submit
Know of any other places?
Know of any other places that are awesomely and truly handicap-accessible? Parks, walking trails, museums, whatever, let us know! Please provide as much info about where it is as possible. Please only submit places in Arkansas, as those are the only ones we can check out. We're hoping that others will take up the charge and offer these types of pages for their area soon. When they do, we will link to them and hopefully make a network!
submit
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- TribalDancer TribalDancer Nov 14, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
- Malco Razorback Theater - Fayetteville, AR. The new Malco has plenty of handicap parking, including several van spots, nice sized handicap bathroom stalls, and an whole row in each theater for wheelchairs and caretakers. The only drawback is that they did all that but didn't put a button to automatically open the doors. Maybe those will come later. So if you're in a chair, take someone with you to open doors. Otherwise enjoy!
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- TribalDancer TribalDancer Jul 29, 2008 @ 9:51 am
- Alltel Arena, Little Rock, AR. Could have more handicap parking spaces, but the entrance is easy to access and there are several ramps to the handicap seating areas. The seating areas are great as far as view goes and there is plenty of room for a motorized wheelchair. There are curtains you have to go through but we didn't have a problem with those. Plus, if you order tickets in that section you can choose which price tier you pay. They do require that you fax or send a doctor's note verifying your handicap status, but that's a good thing in my book. Those seats are for handicap only unless no one buys them by showtime. Recommended - but I wouldn't recommend going around alone in the general area outside the arena.
Your thoughts....
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- Laura Coalman Laura Coalman Feb 24, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
- Yesterday I fell down some stairs at The De Paul Treatment Center. There is now Elevator there at all. How is a person who is in a wheelchair supposed to go up and down stairs? The y do know there that I am disabled too. My son is in Treatment There. I was not allowed to see him for 2 minutes. A man asked if I was o.k. I said I was fine I did not get any help getting up.
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- lisadh lisadh Nov 14, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
- Wonderful idea for a lens and great suggestions for hotel and restaurant owners, builders, etc. My partner uses an electric scooter when we go anywhere that requires much walking due to a back injury from being rear-ended by a drunk driver many years ago. And it makes you quickly realize that handicap-accessible is often not as accessible as it should be. 5*
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Jul 22, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
- As my husband and I get older and we see our parents struggling, we are more aware of the problems. Few really think about it until they need it. Lenses like this bring the problem to the forefront. Good Job!
Lizzy
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- Cindy Cindy Jul 21, 2008 @ 6:45 am
- THANK YOU~!!!!! I have these same problems, I was stuck in one bathroom for almost 10 minutes beating on the door, I can stand but there was no wall to pull myself up in. I was in tears, and had accidentally left my cell phone in the car. Needless to say I gave the store manager an ear full. These handicap accessible are a joke, I have had a few good ones, but ALWAYS ALWAYS the doors are problems. Most of the times the sinks, when its too high, you usually get your shirt soaked because of others left it wet and you have to lean in. Please take this site into consideration when constructing your buildings.
More information on ALS and disability
by TribalDancer
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