Making Your Home or Office Handicap Accessible

It is important for people with disability whether temporary or permanent to continue their everyday jobs and chores with ease and comfort. If you are planning to make your home or office handicap friendly and accessible, then you may want to check the simple yet helpful guidelines below:


Home Tips:

Doors:
It should be wide enough to allow walker and wheelchair access.  If the doorway is positioned in a typical hallway and needs turning a wheelchair, then you will need a wider door and floor space. 


Bathtubs:
Bathtub and shower grab bars should be installed in order to provide support.  You can also place a tub transfer seat that allows persons to sit in the tub and take a bath or shower.  In this way, the person does not necessarily have to lower himself to the tub floor. 

Toilet seat:
The height can be customize and adapted from one individual to another.  It can be replaced with raised seats or other special units.  Installing toilet grab bars can be very useful in providing individuals safety transfer from and to a wheelchair. 


Sinks and faucets:
Vanity cabinets may be removed from below the sink.  Pedestal style sinks can provide more space to maneuver.  You can also replace faucets with single lever controls.  But consider using an anti-scald temperature control to prevent water temperature from going beyond its limit. 


Office Tips:

Office location:
The workplace must be located as near as possible to public transportation routes – subway stops and bus shelters.  There must be curb cuts in the blocks around the building for people using wheelchairs or scooters. 

Parking space:
Persons with disabilities should be reserved with designated parking areas and properly marked.  It must be next to the building entrance.  Spaces should be enough to have room when transferring from wheelchair to vehicle. 

Buildings:   
It should be visibly marked with suitably big and legible signage to prevent any difficulty for people with visual disabilities.  The signage must be immediately noticeable upon entering the building.  It has to indicate locations of elevators, offices, rest rooms and other facilities. 

Travel path:
When there is a change in level of travel path inside or outside the building, elevators, ramps or other facilities should be provided.  This allows the person to reach the other level without the need to use the stairs or escalators.


Entrances:
Building entrances must have electric, automatic hinged or sliding doors except when existing doors are wide enough to accommodate passage of wheelchairs.  The doors must permit trouble-free clearance for people in wheelchairs when opened.

Rest rooms:
Its doors are recommended to be automatic.  There should be at least 1 sink reachable to persons using wheelchairs.  Horizontal bars should be positioned on the wall side of the stall closest to the toilet.  Soap or towel dispensers must be also reachable to persons in wheelchairs.  

The guidelines mentioned will not only provide our handicap friends with convenience but most importantly it can help them become more productive and efficient individuals despite their health conditions.