Lowered closet rail in hotel room

I’m in Atlanta, preparing for three days of meetings and tours with the Access Board. Every hotel is a new adventure and I thought I might share those occasional “oops” to help out my readers who design hotels and hospitality facilities. Today’s challenge is providing hanging space in hotel room closets within the maximum reach range. This hotel has a nifty way of providing lowered hanging space with two swing-out rails, one on each side of the closet.  These work really nicely. However, only one has actual space below to allow hanging of garments.  The hotel safe fills up the entire rest of the closet floor. Sigh.

I hung up what I could and my last outfit will get hung up after I take out tomorrow’s. Good thing I am organized and have a lot of wrinkle resistant clothes!

Welcome to my home!

Recently I was asked, “My daughter would love to invite yours over but our house isn’t wheelchair accessible.” The other parent was chagrined to have to ask about what might be seen as a shortcoming on her part, sincerely apologetic, and yet I was thrilled! She opened the door to dialogue about how she could best accommodate and welcome my daughter, also a wheelchair user, into her home.

Today, my friend, Ellen Painter Dollar, a fellow mom with disability and a thoughtful blogger/writer, posted an heartfelt and informative essay on “Six ways to be Hospitable toward People with Disabilities“. She invited two friends (one was me!) to share their ideas for making careful walkers/wheelers feel more welcome. I urge you to read both Ellen’s articulate post and the comments that follow.

Thanks, Ellen, for starting the conversation. Maybe a few more party invitations will be forthcoming after this!

Teens eating ice cream at kitchen island

The accessible kitchen at award-winning Magnolia Mid-Mod, designed by Studio Pacifica and Rom Architecture Studio, was chosen as a set for Varilite’s latest lifestyle photo shoot.  Varilite, a wheelchair seating and postural support manufacturer, appreciated the clean, vibrant backdrop for their theme, “Life is calling.”  Here are some shots of the fun!

Teens baking cookies, seen from above

Teens baking cookies at wall oven

ADA Checklist Graphic

The New England ADA Center and the Institute for Human-Centered Design debuted their updated ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier-Removal recently. From their website, “This checklist is based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. It updates the original ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal which was based on the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The original checklist was issued in 1992 and revised in 1995.

Businesses and non-profit organizations removing barriers before March 15, 2012 have the choice of using either the 1991 Standards or the 2010 Standards. Businesses and non-profit organizations removing barriers on or after March 15, 2012 must use the 2010 Standards.”

The new site provides a checklist for standard Public Accommodations and another for recreation facilities.  Each checklist is provided in three versions, including a Word Fillable form and printable pages.  The site has been optimized for a mobile version for on-the-go reviews on your iPad or Smartphone.

It is good to note this checklist is suitable for Public Accommodations who are trying to determine what barriers exist in their facilities – it is not suitable for new construction or alterations.

Mentoring

I throughly enjoy sharing my passion about architecture and accessible design with young people. It gives me the opportunity to spread the word about something I believe in – and it is a great way to give back. I most enjoy working with teens – as they try to determine what their interests are and future might hold. I was recently interviewed by a young friend as she explores Modern Architecture and the development of her own “Accessible and Green Home of the Future”. Such fun!

Accessible pocket door, fully retracted

These photos illustrate a great example of how to create an accessible pocket door.  Accessible or Type A doors must have accessible hardware, a challenge to accomplish on a traditional pocket door that retracts fully into the wall.  The typical finger pull on the end of a pocket door doesn’t meet the criteria for no pinching or tight grasping.

Pocket door handles

Pocket doors that don’t slide all the way back into the pocket and have easy to use loop hardware are much more accessible to everyone.