How to Make A Bathroom Sink Handicap Accessible

Creating a bathroom design for a handicapped person involves thoughtful planning. Everything needs to be adjusted to suit the needs of the disabled person. Design features in the bathroom should include easy access to the sink via a wheelchair. Steps for adding these features are listed here.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Discuss with the disabled or elderly person their personal needs. Perhaps they desire a sink that is easily accessible by simply bending a little. They may be wheelchair-bound and need to reach the sink while remaining in their chair. Consider their requests when taking your measurements for sink adjustments or installation.

2. Expose the pipes by removing the old sink if one is in place.

3. Insulate the pipes or build a box to cover the exposed pipes so that once the wheelchair is in place, the individual won't burn their knees while accessing the sink. Pad the outside of the box for added comfort in case of accidental bumping.

4. Using your measurements taken of either the wheelchair height or crouching height, mark your installation points. Typical height for average wheelchairs are 30 to 34 inches. They should be able to wheel their chair in and reach the taps and soaps with ease. Place the sink in the marked position and reconnect the pipes.

5. Remove old faucets and replace with ones that are easy to maneuver. Test out which ones work best for their needs. Arthritis might prevent certain types from being useful. Let the individual who will be using the facility participate in the selection.

Resources

• Building accessible bathrooms.
• Making your home accessible.