Accessible toilets

Public toilets and restrooms can present accessibility challenges for people with disabilities, for example those in wheelchairs. Some common mistakes are to put an accessible toilet on a floor that can only be reached by stairs, or hinging a toilet door in a way making it impossible for a wheelchair user to reach the toilet. Some businesses and organizations do not provide accessible toilets, citing lack of need. However there may not be an awareness of potential use.

Legal requirements

Some countries have requirements for public restrooms to ensure accessibility. In the United States, most new construction for public use must be built to ADA standards for accessibility. In the United Kingdom, the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 requires organizations and businesses to make adjustments to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Recommendations appearing in legal requirements

* A wheelchair-accessible toilet should be at a height to help the user on and off the toilet, with handles (grab bars).
* Good practice is also to provide an alarm (in the form of a red cord, connected to a buzzer and a flashing red light which reaches the ground) in case of emergency.
* The sink and hand dryer should be at a height for wheelchair users to be able to reach comfortably.
* The door of an accessible toilet, and the doors leading to it, need to be wide enough for a wheelchair. Particular care needs to be taken to notice how much space is left when a door is open.
* Accessible toilets need larger floor space than other cubicles to allow space for a wheelchair to maneuver. This space is also useful for people who are not necessarily wheelchair users, but still need physical support from someone else. Very good practice would be having a changing table, however this happens very rarely.

Sources

* United Nations Enable Programme
* UK Charity Mencap campaign "Changing places, changing lives" www.changing-places.org.