For a long time bathrooms were strictly utilitarian and built in a “one size fits all” fashion. This did not pose a problem for much of the population but for others, the “standard” bathroom was something of a nightmare. People with special needs often have a hard time in bathrooms built for “normal” people.
Designers understand this and this is why many have endeavoured to design bathrooms and create fixtures that are built with the needs of a special person in mind. Special needs people need to have fixtures that are sturdier and better able to hold weight. People with special needs require elements that are at a different height than those built for people who do not have special needs.
Typically, a bathroom that has been built for a person with special needs will have a stand alone sink, a toilet with a wider seat that is either lower to the ground (for children with special needs) or higher up for those who have trouble bending their needs or who might need to transfer to the toilet from a wheel chair.
The bathroom that has been designed for a person with special needs will be equipped with a shower stall that has a bench or seat installed. If the bathroom has a bath tub, that bath tub will usually have jets to work a person’s muscles and might be raised up off of the floor to help people who have trouble transferring from a standing position to a sitting position.
A bathroom that has been designed for someone who has special needs will often have quite a few extra support beams built in around the room. These beams usually look like bars and are bolted into the walls surrounding the sink, the shower and/or tub, and the toilet. These beams are installed to help a person with special needs manoeuvre from one part of the bathroom to another and to support them as they transfer from any chairs or crutches to the different areas of the bathroom that the person needs to use.
Many designers feel challenged by bathrooms for people with special needs because the contractors want to accommodate the clients’ needs but they also realize that “non special needs” people might be using the bathroom as well. Accommodating both can be tricky.
Softer corners are always a good idea for special needs people as are bathroom elements have been designed to hold a person’s body weight.
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March 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I suffer from Parkinsons and have only in the past year begun to really appreciate ADA height toilets, grab bars in the shower, low step over entrances to showers etc. I have commented so many times in discussion groups and on my blog site (which is sponsored by a friend in the online plumbing business) that I feel dumb but it does make such a difference in my quality of life that its difficult to think of how I would survive without them.
Thanks for your informative take on the subject just thought you would like to hear from someone who has to have it.