![]() Hardwood is an excellent choice, as is ceramic tile and certain kinds of laminate flooring. Instead, opt for hard flooring that is non-slippery while offering enough traction to make maneuvering safe and easy. Flooring is a big consideration thick carpeting, for example, can make wheelchair movement difficult. There are a number of other apartment features that are truly helpful to anyone with mobility issues. Installing grab bars – from bars by the toilet to bars in the shower – is also a helpful safety feature. A raised toilet is another must, as it can be difficult for some people with disabilities to maneuver from a wheelchair (or even from a standing position) on to a toilet with a lower height. This allows easy access for someone in a wheelchair, as well as elderly individuals who may have trouble stepping into a tub or over a raised shower threshold. It’s also a must to install a handicapped accessible, roll-in shower. Single-lever faucets are also ideal these feature one lever that is moved up, down, and to the left and right to turn the water on, off, and change the temperature. Rather than sinks installed within a bank of cabinetry, pedestal or wall-mounted sinks are best to offer up-close access. How to Make Your Apartment Bathroom Handicap Accessibleīesides the kitchen, apartment bathrooms are another area that have specific requirements to make them handicap accessible. In order to make them easily accessible, kitchen counters should be installed at 30 inches high (or even as low as 27 inches). Standard kitchen counters are 36 inches high, which puts them out of reach for most wheelchair-bound individuals. ![]() This means designing a kitchen with plenty of room for a wheelchair to maneuver (including removing some floor cabinets to allow someone in a wheelchair to roll right up to the countertop).Ĭountertop height is also a concern. When working to make an apartment handicap accessible, the kitchen is a big area where care must be taken to lay things out in a thoughtful manner. Doorway thresholds should be flat to allow wheelchairs and walkers to pass through without sticking. If possible, consider adding an automatic door opener to further help those who may need assistance coming and going from the building. In addition to offering wide doorways, installing offset hinges will offer even more clearance when the door is opened all the way. ADA guidelines (which apply to the common areas in modern apartment buildings in the United States) require doorways to be a minimum width of 32 inches. Doorways should be wide enough to easily accommodate someone in a wheelchair or using a walker. Accessibility starts from the outside of the building, meaning that stairs need to be replaced or covered with a wheelchair ramp in order to make a wheelchair-accessible entryway.
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