Hospital Saga Continues...

Do wheelchair users need to have the same amenities that non-wheelchair users have in hospitals?  The answer is a resounding YES.

Now, let's be specific.  You go down the hall to X-Ray and need to sue the bathroom and you are told the 'handicapped' bathroom is down the hall by admissions.  On the way down the hall you pass a mens' and women's bathroom complex that is not accessible.  That is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADA) with an effective date of January 1, 2009.

All bathrooms are required to be accessible...well almost.  Let me give you an example.  When you get to X-Ray there are three unisex bathrooms.  There we have the 5% rule, of the three individual bathrooms only one needs to be accessible.  Remember, the purpose of the ADA's objectives is to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination and a clear, strong, consistent, enforeceable standard for addressing discrimination by reinstating a broad scope of protection for the 'handicapped' that is available to the wheelchair user under the ADA.

Give us your questions or thoughts on the above article.  You can post them here or on our FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Access-Technologies-Services-Inc/268659564730.  You can also reach us at hfalstad@accessts.net or call us at (702) 649-7575.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Hank


The above are opinions of Hank Falstad, AIA, Managing Senior Associate of Access Technologies Services, Inc. (ACCESS).  See our web site for additional information:  www.accessts.net.