Home Accessibility Checklist

Is your home accessible for handicap? Check out these ADA guidelines and see how your home compares and to learn how to make your home more user-friendly.  These ADA guidelines can act as an accessibility yardstick.

Ramps & Slopes

• Are ramps at least 36″ wide between the two handrails to allow for convenient wheelchair travel?
• Does the ramp rise no more than 1″ per foot? A ramp that rises vertically 7″ should be at least 7 feet long.
• Do interior ramps have top, middle and bottom landings that are level and at least 60″ long to allow for adequate maneuvering and resting space?

Hallways & Doors

• Is the doorway leading to accessible spaces at least 32″ wide?
• Are hallways free of steps or abrupt vertical changes over 1/4″?
• Is the hardware required for an accessible door mounted no higher than 48″ above the finished floor?
• Does at least one door to each accessible space have door hardware (levers, pulls, panic bars, etc.) usable with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist?

Bathrooms

• Is the toilet seat between 17″ and 19″ inches above the floor?
• Does each accessible toilet have a horizontal grab bar on the adjacent side wall at least 40″ long and between 33″ and 36″above the floor for stabilization and assistance during transfer from a wheelchair?
• Does the sink have at least 29″ of clearance under the front edge to allow wheelchair users to pull under the sink and use the faucet?
• Is there a faucet that is easily operable with hardware that is usable with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist?
• Is there enough room for a wheelchair user to turn around (either in a 60″ diameter circle or in a T-shaped turn)?
• Are the roll-in showers free of doors that would impede wheelchair transfer onto the seat?
• Is there a shower spray unit with a hose that is at least 60″ long and that can be used both as a fixed shower head and as a hand-held shower?
• Is there a securely attached tub seat for persons who cannot stand in the tub?
• Along the side of the tub, are there two horizontal grab bars at least 24″ long for stabilization and to aid in transfers from a wheelchair?
• Does the medicine cabinet have a usable shelf located no higher than 44″ above the floor space?

Bedrooms

• Is there at least a 36″-wide route on each side of the bed and at the foot of the bed to allow people who use wheelchairs to transfer onto the bed from either side?
• Are drapery wands, controls on fixed lamps and thermostat controls easily operable with one hand?
• Are drapery wands, controls on fixed lamps and thermostat controls within 54″ of the floor for side approach or within 48″ of the floor for forward approach for people who use wheelchairs?
• Are the rods and shelves in the closet within 54″ of the floor for side approach or 48″ of the floor for forward approach for people in wheelchairs?

For more detailed information visit http://www.ada.gov/.