How to Remodel a Bathroom to Be Handicap Accessible for Children
Children with special needs may require accommodations throughout the home, especially in high-risk areas that have many potential hazards. Your bathroom, for example, may require some remodeling to be accessible for your special needs child. The remodel should make the bathroom fixtures easier for the child to operate and safer for everyday use. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Covert your conventional tub into a walk-in tub. As your child gets older, this will allow him to retain more of his independence. Handicapped people often can't step over a conventional tub to get into it, and showering is more dangerous because of slip-and-fall accidents. However, for a walk-in tub to be accessible, your special needs child must have some use of his arms and legs.
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Consider converting your conventional shower into a walk-in shower. The walk-in shower should have a drain in the floor of the bathroom and curtains surrounding the shower area. Avoid placing anything else around the edges so that your child's wheelchair can roll into the shower easily. This type of shower may be necessary if your child does not have use of her legs.
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Add grab bars inside the shower and on at least one side of the toilet. The grab bars will make it easier for your disabled child to use these bathroom fixtures safely. Make sure the grab bars are at a level that your child can reach. They can always be raised higher as he grows.
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Leave space under your bathroom sink so your child's wheelchair can roll under it. The sink must be at a level that your child can reach from her wheelchair. This can mean installing a lower cabinet and leaving the sink pipes exposed, rather than concealing them in a cabinet. Leaving a space under the sink for your child's wheelchair will allow him to wash his face and hands and brush his teeth by himself.
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Use slip-proof flooring or coatings in the bathtub or shower and on the bathroom floor. This step is especially important if your child gets in and out of the bathtub or shower by herself.
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Widen the entrance into the bathroom. This will allow your child to enter the bathroom more easily. A 32-inch doorway is ideal unless your child needs to turn his wheelchair upon entering. In this case, the doorway should be at least 36 inches across.
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Consider removing the bathroom door. Instead of a conventional door, a sliding door or curtain will be much easier for your child to use, especially if she's in a wheelchair or has limited use of her arms. This is also an added safety feature. In the event of an emergency, you'll never have to deal with a locked or jammed door.
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Tips & Warnings
If you decide to keep the conventional door for your bathroom, remove the locks. If an accident occurs, you don't want anything to get in your way when trying to reach your child.
References
- Photo Credit bathroom image by Mikhail Olykainen from Fotolia.com
