Universal Design
Accessibility Is For Everyone
by Glen Boudreaux
When thinking about the homes we build, we should think of now and the future. Will the living environments we design allow homeowners to function with minimal assistance as they age or are faced with an unexpected injury? Whether homeowners have physical challenges or are simply getting older, universal design is a quality of life issue that homebuilders now must consider.
Universal design makes a living environment free from barriers for people with a range of physical challenges or disabilities. However, designing for accessibility makes a home more functional not only for people with physical challenges but for everyone else as well.
We tend to think accessible design makes a space look like an institution, but that is far from the truth. A universally designed space can be stylish and well appointed. Homebuilders can design a home that is both beautiful and barrier free to accommodate current homeowners as well as a future owner of the home, and this makes it an easier sell. There are many examples of universal design for aging in place. For instance, lever door handles, originally designed to meet standards of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), allow people to open doors with their elbows while carrying groceries, clothesbaskets and even children.
We now are dealing with the challenges of health care and rising energy prices, as well as the issues of global warming and other environmental factors that have led to the popularity of green design for energy efficiency and sustainability. Building responsibly and addressing the issues of accessibility will allow present users to stay longer in their homes. Because they or the next user of the house will not have to remodel for accessibility, resources such as energy and materials are conserved with universal design.
It is our responsibility as designers, architects, homebuilders and consumers to make sure that what we build now and going forward is done responsibly, with the future in mind.
Glen Boudreaux, ASID, IFDA, is owner of Glen Boudreaux & Associates in Dallas, Texas.
214.752.0997
glenboudreauxandassociates.com
Universal Bathroom Guidelines
- Install lever handles on doors for easy entry. Doorways should be three feet wide with a minimum clearance space of 32 inches wide.
- Use non-slip tile on floors and smaller tile in the shower, adding more grout lines for a higher coefficient of friction and more slip resistance. Make the shower a roll-in design to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and people using canes.
- As we age, our visual acuity decreases and we require better and more light. Hence, when functioning in the bathroom, increased light levels are required. Lighting should be brighter for tasks but not glaring.
- When selecting and designing the deck for a regular or spa tub, create a space for a seated transfer. This requires a wider tub on the front side to accommodate the seating space. A handheld sprayer should be included with a spa tub, making it is easier to clean and rinse.
- Install an adjustable showerhead on a bar in the shower and a shower seat at the proper height for easy up and down motion to prevent pressure on knee joints and back. If grab bars are not installed at the time of construction, install 2-by-12-inch bracing at the proper height for later installation of grab bars in the tub, shower and water closet areas. Attractive grab bars that are embellished with traditional or contemporary escutcheons are now available.
- When choosing a water closet, the proper seat height should be selected. Handicapped height water closets are available with the same look of contemporary or traditional water closets.
- Don't install water closets in a closet or near a door if it restricts movement. Allow space for the user to transfer from a wheelchair to the seat. If privacy is needed, a half-height privacy wall can be installed, still allowing space for transfer. Installing a urinal makes cleaning easier and also prevents the user from having to bend down to lift the seat or push the lever.
- Use L-shaped towel holders and toilet paper holders instead of towel rings or the spring-type cylinders for toilet paper. It is easier to place paper and towels on these L-shaped holders than to operate spring holders or thread towels through rings.
- Pedestal sinks are easier for those with walkers or wheelchairs to success. If using a cabinet, build the toe kick nine inches high to ensure that the feet of someone in a wheel chair can pass underneath. The doors of a cabinet under a sink should be the slide back type (as in a TV cabinet) and the cabinet should be removable so the sink can becomes accessible without further construction if the need arises.
- Hardware on cabinets should be levers and pulls rather than knobs. Grabbing knobs can be difficult for people with arthritis or fibromyalgia. Lower counters to the proper height for accessibility. If there is a makeup area, create a recessed area 12 to 14 inches deep in the counter to allow the user to get closer to the mirror and the ability to sit rather than having to stand and bend forward.
- Place light switches at lower heights for easy reach by those in wheelchairs or those with range of motion problems. All lights should be on dimmers with sliders since people with arthritis have difficulty with knobs. Allow for an extra outlet for a nightlight in the bathroom to serve as a lighted pathway to the bathroom.
