Using a Fitness Center Does Not Have to be an Exercise in Frustration: Tips for People with Mobility and Visual Disabilities

4.3 Locker Room Barriers and Solutions

Barriers	Solutions
	Easy/Low cost	Involved / High cost
Not enough space in front of the lockers	Ask staff to permanently assign you a locker in an accessible location, such as at the end of a row where there is extra floor space	Remove some benches to provide 36 inches of space in front of the lockers at least in one section you can use
Lockers are difficult to open with one hand or limited grasp	Replace the handle on the locker with one that is easy to grasp with one hand and does not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting to operate.	Remove the locking mechanism and attach a handle that is easy to use
Benches in the dressing area are too narrow	Ask staff to put a chair in dressing area	Replace the benches with ones that are 20-24 inches wide to provide a stable seat and at least 42 inches long.
Restrooms are not large enough for a wheelchair user to maneuver	Change hinges so door swings out, to provide more space	Rearrange the restroom partitions to comply with ADAAG requirements for an accessible restroom
Mirror over sink is too high	Install a full-length mirror near the sink area	Install a mirror over the sink that slants down to suit a shorter user
Shower does not have a bench	Ask staff to provide a portable shower chair or transfer bench	Install a permanent fold-down bench in the shower

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