Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field

Feature 6 - Restrooms

An accessible restroom with accessible amenities (e.g, drinking fountains) outside the space.

If restrooms are available to meeting participants, then accessible restrooms must also be available to participants with disabilities. Accessible restrooms should be in the same basic location as other restrooms. An accessible stall has a door wide enough to enter; floor space for a wheelchair user to roll up to the toilet; grab bars on the back and side wall nearest the toilet to support the person as he transfers from and back to his wheelchair; a toilet seat at wheelchair seat height to facilitate transfer; a flush valve and toilet paper dispenser within reach; and door hardware that does not require tight pinching, twisting, or grasping to use.

An accessible lavatory has floor space in front so that a wheelchair user can approach it, knee clearance so the person can pull under it, and a lowered top surface height so the person can reach the faucets and soap dispenser and use the bowl easily. The lavatory's hot water and drain pipes have to be insulated or configured to prevent leg burns or injuries, and the lavatory may not have sharp or abrasive surfaces underneath. Faucets can not require tight pinching, twisting, or grasping to operate (i.e., they are operable with a closed fist). An accessible lavatory is not necessarily one with an extended, shallow bowl - many different lavatories can work if installed properly. Soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand dryers, and trash cans should be near the sink (but not blocking fixtures or dispensers) and within the reach range of someone who is seated or of short stature. Ensure that furniture (e.g., a chair, a large trash can) does not block maneuvering clearances at doors or fixtures and that hand dryers and dispensers are not mounted where they become protruding objects. ADA Standards for Accessible Design | Temporary Barrier Removal Suggestions for Accessible Features