Accessibility letter: advice requested

[aedifica]

I was in a restaurant last week and when I went to the bathroom I saw it said on the door in huge letters "WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE." So that got me thinking about accessibility more than I normally might. The first thing I noticed is that when I turned to lock the door, I saw that the door lock is placed *very* high on the door, about head height--high enough that I don't think I could reach it if I were sitting in a wheelchair. (Or if I had shoulder mobility issues.) So I'm thinking I'll write them a letter asking them to put a lock lower on the door.

Here are the other things I noticed, only I don't know if these are features or bugs--should I include them in the letter?

- There was a horizontal bar on the wall next to the toilet, like you usually see in wheelchair stalls. The toilet paper holder was at the same level as the bar, on the end of the bar away from the toilet, which made me think it might be a little hard to reach (it was a little hard for *me* to reach that far forward, and I'm currently-able-bodied). Would having it above the bar closer to the toilet be easier or harder, or is that something that depends on the person?

- The sink was really high. Is that a good thing, so you can scoot your chair in close enough to reach, or a bad thing? Or again, something that depends on the person?

Comments

[ex_rising236]

The toilet paper holder absolutely, in my opinion, needs to be at a level where it is reachable by someone who is by themselves, and quite possibly disabled. Please, please include in your letter that they should move it to be witin easy arm's reach of the toilet.

Define really high? Handicapped sinks are often higher, but even when I'm using a chair they need to not be too high. If they are too high, I have shoulder mobility issues in trying to reach to put my hands in the water, turn the water on and off, et cetera.

It makes me happy to realise that people notice these things, it really does.

[aedifica]

Thanks! And sorry I don't have a clearer idea of how high it was, I just remember thinking "wow, that's high" without focusing on it enough to set the height in my memory. I think it was a little higher than the sinks I normally see in wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, but I'm not certain.

[archersangel]

taking pictures to send in might be a good idea, so they know what you're talking about

[aedifica]

In this case that shouldn't be necessary, it's not a chain, but I'll keep that in mind for other situations!

[freyakitten]

Definitely speak up about the toilet paper. Speaking as someone who is short (5'2"), with arms in proportion to my height, I have this issue with any toilet paper holder mounted on the back of the cubicle door - I have to get the paper before I sit down, or stand up to bring the paper within reach. Or take my own in. Having toilet paper supplies dispensed outside of easy reach when sitting in a position to use it drives me up the wall...

And if I'm having a dizzy spell day, I can't even lean forward to get it.

[trixie]

I think these are things that definitely depend on the person, especially the toilet paper issue. Higher sinks are generally good because it allows a person in a wheelchair to get under the counter and up to the sink, but wheelchairs vary WILDLY in height, so what is comfortable for someone like me with my motorized wheelchair, may be very high for someone in a low manual chair. As for the toilet paper, I can see how having it too far away is a problem, but personally I always hate the large dispensers that are mounted above or below the grab-bar because it tends to get in my way when using the bar to transfer. So, *shrug*.