Inaccessible Soap
Guidelines: According to the checklist created by the Americans with Disabilities Act, more commonly referred to as the ADA, the soap dispensers in public restrooms must be within a reachable distance for people of all abilities. If qualified as a common resource, the set guideline for the maximum height of the soap dispensers is 44 inches. The Problem: In the Turman Hall third floor women’s bathroom, the height of the soap dispensers falls outside of this range. The automatic soap dispensers, mounted on the walls next to the mirrors and slightly above the sinks, are approximately 68 inches in height from the ground. This is because the counter acts as a barrier between the soap dispenser and the user, creating an obstacle that must be reached over in order to access the soap. Technically, if the counter with the sinks was not there, then the soap dispensers would just be at the 44 inch limit. However, because the bathroom was designed with the soap dispensers above the sinks, the soap is not accessible to most wheelchair users. The sinks themselves are accessible to wheelchair users, but the soap dispensers are not. This poses a problem because in order to sanitarily wash one's hands, it is necessary to use soap instead of merely water. Experimenting: In an attempt to be completely sure that the soap dispensers were indeed inaccessible, I decided to test the range of their sensors. If the range of the soap dispenser sensors reached all the way down to the counter then it might be possible for some individuals to use the soap by simply placing their hands underneath the dispenser. I started my tests by placing my hand directly under the dispenser and touching the counter. The result? The sensor was not triggered and this no soap was dispensed. Still hopeful, I moved my hand up inch by inch, continually doing so until the sensor finally detected my hand and dispensed the allotted amount of soap. However, by the time I finally reached the sensor’s range, my hand was merely an inch or two from the dispenser. Thus, my hypothesis that sensors would be triggered from farther down was unfortunately not true. Conclusions: While the soap dispensers could theoretically be easily used by people of all abilities since they are automatic and don’t require any hand muscle abilities to push a button, they are inaccessible because they are unreachable. Since the soap, which is a key sanitation resource in the bathroom, is not within reach of individuals using wheelchairs, this goes against the International Symbol of Accessibility sign marking the bathroom as accessible. If the soap, a necessary amenity of a bathroom, is inaccessible in this women’s bathroom, what can be done to make it more accessible? |
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