Public restrooms are ALWAYS a tricky situation for me and here is evidence as to why. I KNOW I am NOT the MOST disabled person but builders/contractors/whomever is responsible for building them need to consider disabled people MORE! It is NOT that we are MORE important, it’s just that proper consideration needs to be taken for a person who does not have full control of their body and needs to use a public restroom. I saw these few things at a public restroom I needed to use and I just HAD to take these pictures.
Just a few questions that need to be asked and/or considerations made because Disabled People Matter Too!!! (#DPM2):
The first thing I noticed about this restroom is the placement of the toilet paper dispenser. In order to actually get some toilet paper, I need to bend pretty far down. I used to have really long hair and bending over, my hair used to brush the floor… of a public restroom! GROSS!!!
The next thing I noticed was the placement of the emergency button. If I’m on the floor because I have fallen, how am I going to reach that?!
One thing I DID appreciate was the vertical transfer bar. Many public restrooms do NOT have one of these but these bars offer SO MUCH needed assistance. The problem here is that it is too far away from the toilet. I am only 5’0 and have the arms of a person who is 5’0 tall. The vertical transfer bar was too far away for me to reach. Perhaps there should be 2 bars right next to each other? 1 for tall people and 1 for short people.
Lastly, the paper towel dispenser was too high. It was higher than my head as I am sitting. To raise my arms up with wet hands allows for water to run down my arms to my armpits. MOST uncomfortable! #DPM2!!!