ADA Requirements

Most people don’t think about Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements because they don’t have to. When we move in and out of stores, walk along a path at a public park, or find our seat at a ballgame, we don’t think about the ADA requirements that ensure someone with a disability will have access to the same venue we have. ADA requirements apply to Federal, State, and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities, so, in general, the rules don’t apply to private homes. Therefore, most people never think about how accessible their home is until it’s too late, but there are good reasons to think about ADA requirements when you’re shopping for a new home.

Stuff Happens

Several years ago, a crazy friend of mine convinced me to play on her co-ed dodgeball team. (I know. I should never have listened to her.) Four games into the season, as I sprinted to the line to grab the ball and chuck it at an opposing player, my calf popped. The verdict: a Class II tear of my gastrocnemius, that muscle that gives your calf its sexy shape.

I’m telling you this because my house is not accessible, and I never thought about it until I had to crawl up a flight of stairs on my hands and knees to get into my house. Does your home have an entrance you could use if you were suddenly or temporarily disabled?

ADA Requirements and Seniors

Accidents are one reason to think about ADA requirements, getting older and losing mobility are others. A few years ago, my aunt and uncle were looking to buy a new home. They had found a real estate developer who was building a community marketed to seniors, and my uncle wanted me to look over the architectural drawings and give my opinion. The homes, although marketed to seniors, were not designed to be accessible, and I quickly suggested my uncle talk to the developer about modifying their house plan. After all, this was the home my aunt and uncle planned to live in for the rest of their lives. What if one of them suddenly needed to use a wheelchair? Would the kitchen be accessible? Would a wheelchair have access to at least one bedroom and one bathroom? These were things I asked my uncle to think about when looking for their new home, and, ultimately, he and my aunt purchased a house in a different development.

Which ADA Requirements to Consider

Although some residential construction falls under Federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, there are no ADA requirements for single-family residential homes that are not part of public facilities. Therefore, homebuyers are on their own to consider future and possible needs when shopping for a new home. Thinking about the following ADA requirements while you’re in the home buying process could save you thousands of dollars in modifications later.

Can someone with a disability visit your home?

This is the first question to ask. Being able to visit a home and making a home accessible are two vastly different things in terms of ADA requirements; for the most part, being able to visit just means getting in. ADA sidewalk requirements call for an unobstructed path of travel. As a guide,ADA sidewalk requirements state that sidewalks shall be at least 36 inches wide, but if your sidewalk would require a wheelchair to turn, more space is needed. The slope of the sidewalk should not exceed 5 percent or have a cross slope of more than 2 percent.

Once someone has arrived at your front door, can they get in? ADA building requirements for doors call for a change in level of no greater than ½ inch over the threshold for most doors, and ¾ inch at sliding doors.

Presumably, once someone entered your home, you would want to entertain them in one of the main living areas of your house – the living room, family room, kitchen or dining room. Are there steps or changes in level that would prevent this?

ADA Requirements Could Help You Stay in Your Home Longer

Let’s go back to the story about my aunt and uncle. A very common concern among senior citizens is maintaining their independence. For empty nesters downsizing into homes where they plan to live out their years, it’s especially important to consider the accessibility of any home they purchase. Why should a staircase or the width of a bathroom force someone to move in with their children or into a nursing home prematurely? The following ADA requirements could make all the difference.

Handrails: Handrails could have kept me from crawling up my stairs on my hands and knees, and they are important for helping the elderly, and anyone unsteady on their feet, negotiate a set of stairs. Handrails should be 1.25 to 1.5 inches in diameter and be mounted with 1.5 inches between the wall and the grab bar or handrail. Handrails also need to have enough structural strength to support a 250 pound person and they cannot rotate in their fittings.

Wheelchair Turning Space: This is a big one, and the thing that was most lacking in my aunt and uncle’s house plans. Wheelchairs need a space of 60 inches in diameter to pivot. The minimum ADA requirement for wheelchair turning space is 60 inches by 60 inches, but most people can’t turn in this space on one try or without bumping into things. A space of 60 inches by 78 inches is better. At a minimum, check to see that there is adequate turning space in critical areas of the home. Is the kitchen accessible to a wheelchair? Is there at least one accessible bathroom? What about the bedroom? Is there enough space for someone to turn around and transfer in and out of bed?

Door Hardware: As we age, our joints become stiff and it becomes more difficult to grasp things. Following the ADA requirements for door hardware is another way to make your home more accessible longer. You should be able to operate door hardware with one hand and without grasping it tightly. Imagine that you needed a Seeing Eye dog. Lever-operated and push-type mechanisms can be opened by both service dogs and arthritic human hands, helping to maintain a person’s independence.

These are just a few of the many ADA requirements that can make a home accessible. Being mindful of these requirements and the challenges you could face if you or someone in your family became disabled will help you choose a home that’s comfortable to live in for years to come.