Handicapped restroom facilities up grades possible on the CHEAP!
 

As someone that will spend the rest of their life in a wheelchair, I have ONLY one complaint/issue. MOST venues have a single handicap facility for toilet, and it is ALWAYS as far from the entrance as possible. So be it, living in a wheelchair, I have come to realize. What kills me is when, in an age restricted community, the line for "that stall" is long for one, simple issue... GRAB BAR. I honestly believe 99 % OF THOSE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE GETTING UP FROM FACILITIES THE HEIGHTS TO ACCOMODATE KINDERGARDNERS WOULD ELEMINATED if more stalls had GRAB BARS! PLEASE, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE OF GRAB BARS ON THE SIDE OF EACH STALL WOULD HELP THE MAJORITY OF US THIS AGE AS WELL AS BEING A GOOD TAX RIGHT OFF FOR YOUR BUSINESSES. Lets be honest, none of our knees/joints are what they use to be.

You should submit the suggestion to your CDD, and again to the Villages Holding company so when they build new rec centers they include grab bars in all the stalls.

Very good point. I would mention it to county for consideration in future building codes and also send a note to the state.

I don't think the state or local codes will be changed. The Federal ADA (Americans with Disabilities) Act dictates what you need to build. Here is what they require.

ADA Bathroom Layout | Commercial Restroom Requirements and Plans.

The problem with putting grab bars in all stalls is that the standard, non-handicap stall is not wide enough to qualify as an ambulatory stall. So, the owner could be held liable for an injury incurred by someone using the stall. I don't think any contractor, designer, or code writer would be willing to deviate from the detailed specifications in the Federal ADA law.

One thing that may help would be to place signs on the handicap stalls reminding people that they are only for use by handicapped individuals.

Most public restroom stalls have those big double-roll acrylic toilet paper holders sticking out of the side wall. Womens' stalls also have sanitary waste bins a little lower but next to the toilet paper holders. A slanted grab bar could easily fit above both.

This reminds of my days driving wheelchair veterans to and from the VA hospital in Milwaukee.
One day I pick a wheelchair veteran in my medical van, and he got sick 1 hour into a 4-hour trip.

I stop at this ma and pa convince store with the bathroom's way in back of the store.

A lady behind the counter recognized the vet in a chair and got on her hands and knees to move the metal shelving to widen the isle for the vet.

I figured she know the isle wasn't wide enough and went out of her way to accommodate this wheelchair veteran.

Sometimes these small businesses are worried about being reported when they say
handicap assessable and there not.

I agree, but, to be ADA compliant, the grab bar cannot be slanted. It must be horizontal and at least 42 inches long. Also, it needs to be properly anchored to the toilet partition which may be difficult with some metal partitions. Grab bars could be useful in some toilet stalls, but I would only install them in toilet stalls that are designed to be in full compliance with the ADA dimensions and other requirements. There are attorneys who make their entire living by suing companies that don't comply with the ADA law.

It's that way everywhere. Years ago I broke my ankle so had to be non-weight bearing on crutches. We traveled from the midwest to the east coast to visit our daughter. Stopping all along the way for gas and bathroom breaks this was my discovery. They only do the minimum to pass the ADA. It would have to be legislated for change on the national level. NOW I have mobility issues---not in a wheelchair yet but it may come some day. That's probably why there are minimal handicapped parking spots as well. BUT given we're in a over-55 community that's aging...take a look around at ALL the folks who might have mobility issues. They don't have to have a wheelchair or walker. Just check out the gaits of people---it's quite apparent.

"Handicapped accessible" is not the same thing as "Handicapped Only"...

Some places only have 2 stalls. You're free to use either one...

The issue is that IF you are in a wheelchair, you have no choice. Here in TV, lots of folks have had knee replacements and hip issues that require them assistance in getting up from these non ADA height toilet seats, so HAVE to or feel the need to use the one (or two) handicap stalls that some of us have no options when needed. It is not a problem I expect others to get unless they have issues that require grab bar assistance. Hopefully it is not a problem you ever have to deal with, but a fact of life for a lot of us as we get older. Our old joints ain't what they use to be, and balance becomes an issue often with age regardless of "handicap". If this was not such a huge retirement community, I would not expect the need to be as great as it actually is.

Wrong, HP toilets are included in the required fixture count for the total number of occupants. Unlike parking stalls which are dedicated spaces reserved for the handicapped.

I didn't mean it as a legal requirement, but, if there are 6 stalls, and only one is a handicap stall, it makes sense to suggest not using the handicap stall, unless you need to.

Be thankful! With respect to construction costs, never has so much money been spent on so few people.

While I agree with your post, it's irrelevant to my point...