BEFORE:
I split up the changes into steps and provided pictures of what it MAY look like.
FIRST:
The heater must be moved. It is essential for the door to be opened completely to allow large things such as wheelchairs or walkers through. The wheelchair should fit all the way into the bathroom so that the door may be closed all the way for the privacy that each user deserves.
SECOND:
The cabinets under the sink would be taken away, and the sink would be mounted onto the wall with nothing underneath it in order to have room for a wheelchair, walker, or any other type of assistance a person with disabilities may need.
It may look like this:
THIRD:
The toilet and the sink would swap places so that the sink is the first thing in the bathroom on the right, leaving more room for an accessible wheelchair to access the toilet. Also, the toilet would have bars for support.
It may look like this:
FOURTH:
The shower needs changing. One needs to take a large step over the bathtub in order to enter it. A change I would make is to have a swinging door in the tub that goes from the bottom of the tub, so a person may walk into it with a walker or other type of support.
It may look like this:
These are not changes that can be made easily or cheaply, but they would be made if a person needed it. Architects and designers in New York City need to think more about making their buildings on the outside AND inside accessible to people of all sizes and abilities. It is a shame that people with disabilities are a secondary thought and that these changes must be made after the original design of the whole building. The whole purpose of UD (and UDL) is to proactively design environments to suit all people. Why is it so hard to think of others FIRST?
Natalie, I loved your pictures of how you would improve the accessibility of items in a typical bathroom. I think you are very right in explaining that though these changes are not exactly cheap to make, it is certainly a shame that individuals with disabilities are a "secondary thought." I wish that architects had a certain regulation where they had to design buildings and spaces that followed the UDL framework so accessibility would be a foresight and not an after thought.
ReplyDeleteI agree Lauren! Thanks for your comment. I remember in previous classes we discussed how people's view of persons with disabilities have become much more positive in the last half a century...hopefully this upward trend will include a more accessible Center of the Universe? AKA New York City?
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I like how you paid attention to every detail of your bathroom and changed all of them! I think most of apartments in NYC have bathrooms similar to yours. I like the idea you presented do not require huge reconstruction like breaking down entire bathroom. I definitely got great inspiration from this post, and rethinking mine right now. Thank you so much :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is great about your changes is that they do not only help persons with disabilities, but people without any disabilities as well. That is true UDL in action. And yes Lauren, very truly expensive and yes Mossa, apartaments in NYC would truly benefit from this technology. But that means that rent would probably spike up even more which would not be good. Is there any UDL for high rent?
ReplyDeleteThank you all for all of your comments. Kuniko, I agree that it doesn't require huge reconstruction! Even if just one or two of those changes were made, it would make a huge difference for ALL persons--like Kristy said, with or without disabilities. And Kristy, I'm sure there is a whole lot of UD for HIGH rent, but for LOW rent? That may be much harder to come by!
ReplyDeleteNatalie, Great post! I was just writing on Alice's blog that I can't imagine how hard it is to live in NYC, with its unlimited space, and having a physical disability. Here is a NY bathroom that has made it work! Now, I just hope it hasn't cost the individual a fortune to make these changes.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love your shower curtain! Whoever picked it out must have great taste! ; )
Secondly, I think you did a great job at incorporating the 7 principles of universal design into your bathroom revision. Your alterations definitely increase the bathroom's flexibility and equitability in use, which is crucial for individuals with physical handicaps. I also believe you brought up great point when you recognized that your revisions are expensive, however, they would be necessary for an individual with certain disabilities. The bathroom is such an important room for everyone so a person with a physical handicap may need to spend the money to get the necessary equipment to fit their needs.