Accessible lavatories, sinks, and mirrors in Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA refers to sinks in kitchens and kitchenettes, and refers to lavatories in toilet and bathing facilities. All accessible sinks and mirrors have to comply with the ADA Standards, but not all sinks and mirrors have to be accessible.
Read MoreChanging tables for babies and adults in Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These tables are considered work surfaces in the eyes of the ADA. As work surfaces, changing tables must comply with the ADA Standards for clear spaces, reach ranges, operable parts, height above the floor, protruding objects, knee and toe space below the table when open/down, and dispersion within a facility.
Read MoreMulti-user shower installations, including gang showers, in Title II and Title III facilities must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The requirements for toilet stalls, toilets, urinals, sinks, mirrors, and showers in multi-user bathing rooms need to be referenced to make sure adequate accessible elements are installed in multi-user bathing facilities.
Read MoreBathing facilities with a bathtub have ADA requirements for clear spaces for the bathtub and other elements, door maneuvering space, grab bars, and controls. The 2010 ADA Standards do not specify the size of bathing rooms which is determined by the layout, the type and number of fixtures, and other factors and design choices. How various requirements are met, including fixture clearances, turning space, and door maneuvering clearance will determine the minimum dimensions of the room.
Read MoreBathing facilities with a alternate roll-in shower have ADA requirements for size of the shower, clear spaces for other elements, grab bars, controls, and a shower threshold. The 2010 ADA Standards do not specify the size of bathrooms which is determined by the layout, the type and number of fixtures, and other factors and design choices.
Read MoreIn January, 2021, the US Department of Justice settled a lawsuit with the St. Louis, MO, Board of Election Commissioners regarding voting locations that were not ADA accessible during the 2019 election. One of the issues in the settlement was polling places where remediation of the polling place and relocation to another polling facility were infeasible. This article provides a description of effective curb side voting.
Read MoreOn January 12, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Board of Election Commissioners (BEC) for the City of St. Louis (Board), identified as DJ NO. 204-42-155, to ensure that St. Louis polling places are accessible during elections to individuals with mobility and vision impairments.
Read MoreBathing facilities with a alternate roll-in shower have ADA requirements for size of the shower, clear spaces for other elements, grab bars, controls, and a shower threshold. The 2010 ADA Standards do not specify the size of bathrooms which is determined by the layout, the type and number of fixtures, and other factors and design choices.
Read MoreBathing facilities with a standard roll-in shower have ADA requirements for size of the shower, clear space adjacent to the shower and other elements, grab bars, controls, and a shower threshold. The 2010 ADA Standards do not directly specify the size of bathrooms which is determined by the layout, the type and number of fixtures, and other factors and design choices.
Read MoreIn new construction, all bathing facilities must comply with the ADA, including employee only. Each bathing room of an addition must comply as would be required in new construction. When existing bathing rooms are altered, the Standards apply according to the planned scope of work. Where multi-user and unisex bathing rooms are provided, both types must comply. The 2010 ADA Standards do not generally require bathing rooms to be provided in a specific location.
Read MoreToilet rooms that have toilet compartments/stalls must have at least one accessible stall. Accessible toilet stalls have significant requirements for spacing at elements and door maneuvering space. Discrepancies for ADA compliance in toilet compartments is a common source of legal disputes.
Read MoreUnder the 4.5-year supplemental agreement identified as DJ #204-13-298, Denver will ensure that the 18 facilities covered by the agreement are accessible in compliance with Title II of the ADA and the applicable ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Over 100 discrepancies were identified in these facilities.
Read MoreWhere toilets are installed in a facility, at least one of the toilets in a toilet room should comply with the ADA Standards for accessibility. Also, toilet installation components such as grab bars, a toilet paper dispenser, and a toilet seat cover dispenser should also comply. The clearance around the toilet should remain clear of the sink installation and the arc of the pedestrian entry/exit door swing.
Read MoreA multi-user toilet room will likely have multiple installations of the common components found in most toilet rooms. Not all of these components need to be ADA compliant, but a minimum will need to be ADA compliant. Exceeding the minimum requirements of the ADA will be very helpful for the disabled individual and help avoid ADA complaints. Not complying with the ADA requirements is a common source of ADA lawsuits.
Read MoreThe 2010 ADA Standards do not directly specify the size of toilet rooms. The spacing and size of a single user toilet room will be somewhat dependent on the elements installed inside the toilet room, the clear spaces required for each element, and the door swing of the pedestrian entry/exit door. Toilet rooms sized to provide more space than the minimum required by the Standards improve access and enhance usability particularly for people using wheelchairs by allowing more room for maneuvering, transfers, and turning.
Read MoreAccessible drinking fountains in Title II and Title III facilities are required to comply with the ADA. At least two accessible drinking fountains should be installed, one at a lower level for individuals using a wheelchair, and one at a higher level for individuals standing. Drinking fountains should not create a hazard as a protruding object.
Read MoreThe purpose of this article is to discuss the floor or ground surfaces of areas of sport activity. An area of sport activity requires an accessible route to the area of sport activity, but not within the area of sport activity. The area of sport activity may require accessible seating at the team seating location. The requirements for clear spaces at elements applies on the route to the area and within the area of sport activity.
Read MoreMost toilet rooms in Title II and Title III facilities must comply with the ADA Standards. The 2010 ADA Standards do not address the number of toilet rooms or fixtures required for a facility, but instead specify which ones must be accessible where toilet rooms are provided. In new construction, ADA accessibility is required to all toilet rooms, including those for employees.
Read MoreNew construction stairways that are part of an egress route should be compliant with 2010 ADA Standards 504 and 505. In alterations, stairs between levels that are connected by an accessible route shall not be required to comply with Standard 504, except that handrails complying with Standard 505 shall be provided when the stairs are altered.
Read MoreRichard Acree, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) home modifications consultant at ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, (ADAIN) has joined the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder resource directory. The services provided by ADAIN include ADA Information/Assistance and Home Rehabilitation/Repair Service.
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