We were asked to make 3 commercial bathrooms in one building accessible. We wanted to make the bathrooms be set-up for wheelchair accessibility, sensory-friendly, and to be functional for people with low vision. It is difficult to hit all these aspects with every bathroom. We recommended that two bathrooms be set up for low vision and wheelchair access and one bathroom be set up as sensory friendly. Hopefully a sign helping clients to find the sensory-friendly bathroom can be affixed to the bathrooms that are not set up for sensory-friendly.
People with low vision considerations are people with visual issues, over the age of 40 is the beginning of the need for better lighting, people with issues such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes. Approximately 1.5 out of 100 people have vision loss, it is most common in women, African Americans, and Hispanics.
Recommendations for pantry bathroom specifically for low vision and a wheelchair accessible bathroom. This bathroom will not be sensory-friendly.:
- Wheelchair accessibility.
- Ease of use for people with low vision.
Recommendations for pantry bathroom:
- Remove wall next to toilet.
- Replace fluorescent light with LED light fixture with lampshade. 5000 K recommended.
- Paint color for walls, Sunshiny Day or a paler yellow. Research shows that pale yellow backgrounds help things in the foreground to be easier to see.
- Recommend dark blue or black grab bars, can assist when ready to order.
- Sink: the sink in this room is somewhat wheelchair accessible, the drain is in the middle instead of the back. Needs to be moved to allow lateral access to the toilet.
- Would recommend something other than a stainless-steel sink. They have some reflection, which is difficult for low vision, and they make too much noise to be sensory friendly. See below for options.
- Recommend dark automatic faucet, could have black faucet and black grab bars.
- Sink to be mounted 34” high.
- Automatic soap dispenser mounted to the right of the sink 40” high.
- Mirror: Mirror needs to start at the top of the back splash. A 40” tall mirror is recommended.
- Paper towel holder-automatic would be best. Mounted no more than 40” above the floor. Next to exit would be best.
- Toilet: 17” high toilet with flush lever on front, current toilet could be reused. Needs to be installed 12”-18” away from side wall.
- 36” horizontal grab bar next to toilet mounted 34” high, offset 12” from back wall.
- 36” horizontal grab bar mounted 34” high behind toilet.
- Toilet paper dispenser, mounted with bottom edge 5” above grab bar, 7”-9” in front of the toilet bowl.
- Diaper changing station to be remounted across from toilet with bottom edge 33” high.
- Lever-style door handle.
Recommendations for the thrift shop bathroom: This bathroom should be set up for wheelchair accessibility and low vision. It needs to be reconfigured per drawing below to allow lateral access to the toilet.
- Replace fluorescent light with LED light fixture with lampshade. 5000 K recommended.
- Paint color for walls, Sunshiny Day or a paler yellow. Research shows that pale yellow backgrounds help things in the foreground to be easier to see.
- Recommend dark blue or black grab bars, can assist when ready to order.
- Sink: the sink in this room is wheelchair accessible.
- Recommend dark automatic faucet, could have black faucet and black grab bars.
- Sink to be mounted 34” high.
- Automatic soap dispenser mounted to the right of the sink 40” high.
- Mirror: Current mirror is perfect, to be reinstalled above newly positioned sink, just above the backsplash.
- Paper towel holder-automatic would be best. Mounted no more than 40” above the floor, to the left of the sink.
- Toilet: 17” high toilet with flush lever on front, current toilet could be reused. Needs to be installed 12”-18” away from side wall.
- 36” horizontal grab bar next to toilet mounted 34” high, offset 12” from back wall.
- 36” horizontal grab bar mounted 34” high behind toilet.
- Toilet paper dispenser, mounted with bottom edge 5” above grab bar, 7”-9” in front of the toilet bowl.
- Diaper changing station to be remounted to wall adjacent to toilet with bottom edge 33” high.
- Lever-style door handle.
Recommendations for the lobby bathroom: This bathroom is recommended to be the sensory-friendly bathroom and requires the least amount of change.
- The floor has way too much visual stimulation. A solid-colored beige floor is recommended, preferably a thick vinyl plank or tile that reduces noise.
- The best color on your color palette is Ecru. The paint needs to be neutral or a muted blue or pink.
- The current sink is fine but requires a faucet that has gentle water flow and that is not automatic, see below for recommendations.
- Lighting above sink is good, not too bright.
- Door to bathroom needs to close softly. This can be achieved with a door sweep and/or felt pads on the door frame.
- No automatic soap dispenser. Recommend liquid soap that sits on the countertop. No fragrance if possible. Fragrances are often too much for people with autism.
- Paper towel dispenser should NOT be automatic.
- Possible dispenser, this one also good for low vision: https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-4706/Roll-Paper-Towels-and-Dispensers/Uline-EZ-Pull-Junior-Paper-Towel-Dispenser?pricode=WA9413&gadtype=pla&id=H-4706&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZayBhDRARIsAPWzx8p2z1F1_LXpi3YqwLOwskvToBjNentjysUJU7c7CVgm2DqdFUkoxXwis
- NO mirror in this bathroom.
- Trash can should not have a lid or door on it that would make noise when it closes. It should be an open trash can, preferably plastic. Could be a plastic trash can with a swinging plastic lid, just needs to be quiet.
Best color for low vision on your color pallet is Sunshiny Day. Research shows that pale yellow backgrounds help things in the foreground to be easier to see.
Best color on your color palette for autism, Ecru:
Recommended sink options:
- ADA vanity, more expensive but also an option: https://examtables.com/product/ada-vanity/?gad_source=4&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZayBhDRARIsAPWzx8r8ijc8dCNMSwkgw2nhzQ4eR-DiYiP8yOOndcwxReoBldqfnWitFsQaAv1TEALw_wcB
Automatic touchless faucets:
- Touchless faucet:https://www.homedepot.com/p/BWE-Automatic-Sensor-Touchless-Bathroom-Sink-Faucet-With-Deck-Plate-In-Matte-Black-A-918106-B/317022850
Sensory-friendly faucets: These faucets have gentle water flow.
Colored grab bars for low vision:
