The American Disabilities Act was signed in 1990.

Back in 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) into law.  The ADA was enacted to provide civil rights protection to disabled persons.  

Disability was defined as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.” It was a broad sweeping set of regulations which required retail businesses and offices to provide certain standards as to accessibility for those of us who are disabled.  This led to everything from handicapped-marked parking spaces, to curb ramps, extra wide entrance doors and exits, and the ADA regulation height toilet.

Sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it?  However, ADA applies to public spaces, not residential spaces. Plus, there are some handicap accessibility situations where ADA guidelines make no specification. What if you need to modify your bathroom for an elderly parent or for someone who has had an injury, or is recovering from surgery? That’s where the Barrier-Free concept comes into play.

Barrier-Free is defined by our dear friends at Wikipedia as:

“Barrier-free (バリアフリー bariafurii^?) building modification consists of modifying buildings or facilities so that they can be used by the physically disadvantaged or disabled.  The term is used primarily in Japan and non-English speaking countries (e.g. German: Barrierefreiheit; Finnish: Esteettömän rakentamisen), while in English-speaking countries, terms such as “accessibility” and “handicapped accessible” dominate in regular everyday use.

“An example of barrier-free design would be installing a ramp for wheelchairs alongside or in place of steps. In the case of new buildings, however, the idea of barrier free modification has largely been superseded by the concept of universal design, which seeks to design things from the outset to support easy access.”

Freewill® barrier-free wheelchair shower module from Kohler

Let’s face it, we’re all getting older.  Even if you don’t have a need now for things like grab bars, walk-in showers, or higher, elongated toilets, etc…. just throw your back out once and you’ll find out pretty fast how handy all those things can be in the bathroom.  We’d call bathing and going to the bathroom “major life activities”, wouldn’t you?  

But where to start? Many products will say things like “ADA approved,” but like we said before, it doesn’t really cover everything.

Starting to think about making your bathroom more accessible?  It is important that you realize that a certified plumber who is trained in ADA compliancy – like Marshall Mechanical right here in Richmond – should be contacted for your specific needs and specifications.

For a safer, more accessible bathroom, things like grab bars,  higher toilets or a walk-in shower  — even one that is wheelchair accessible — can make a huge difference for an elderly person or other loved one in your life.  Simply call us at 804.323.0189.  Our expert Master Plumber, Ross Herring, will be happy to answer your questions about how to achieve a barrier-free bathroom in your home.