A toilet is a must for every household since humans can’t do without releasing waste daily. The purpose of toilets is to serve human needs, but some people don’t enjoy the benefits. Instead, it is a source of concern for them, and those people are the disabled.
People with disabilities find it hard to use the standard toilet due to the features and design of the toilet. As a result of the disabled’s complaint, the manufacturer introduced the ADA compliant toilet, explicitly designed to meet the needs of the disabled. So what is ADA compliant toilet?
What Is ADA Compliant Toilet?
The ADA compliant toilet is a toilet specially designed for disabled people to make it convenient when using the toilet, unlike the regular toilet used by everyone else. When the American government council decided to solve the disabled complaint by forming the American Disabilities Act, whose abbreviation ADA is the name of the toilet, the ADA Compliant Toilets were born. The group formed was to serve the purpose of being a voice for disabled people to make them enjoy the same benefits every other individual is enjoying.
Are all toilets ADA compliant?
No! Not all toilets are ADA compliant. The ADA compliant, as earlier said, is made mainly for the disabled, although older adults and tall people can use it. Therefore, it has some unique features which differentiate it from standard toilets.
Features
The following are the features that distinguish an ADA compliant toilet from a standard toilet:
- The ADA compliant toilet has a higher toilet seat, which makes it comfortable for the disabled to sit and stand
- The ADA compliant toilet has ample space for the disabled to put in their wheelchairs and move around
- The ADA compliant toilet has flexible parts like the tool-free removable arms, which help the users express themselves while using the toilet
Despite the ADA compliant toilet having different features from the standard toilets, they still have some features in common, which could make those unfamiliar with the ADA compliant toilets think both kinds of toilets are the same.
Their first similarities are that they both have the same look and shape aside from the height and design, which could make someone think they are the same. Another similarity is that they are both easy to fix when you follow the appropriate procedures. Although we might want to fix it ourselves at times, it is advisable to get the help of a professional plumber to help out unless you are a professional, too.
Does an ADA Toilet Have to Be Elongated?
Aside from the answer to the query of what ADA compliant toilet is, we also get the question of whether ADA toilets have an elongated version. Yes! The ADA toilet must be elongated so that the disabled or elderly can carry out their actions without disturbing them. Disabled people need a lot of space due to their wheelchairs to move around, sit, and stand freely.
The standard toilet becomes tiring because they don’t have enough space to do their thing, and most of the time, trying to use the conventional toilet could lead to a fall. When such an incident happens and there is no emergency number to call, it could lead to a person’s death.
Many people find it challenging to elongate their regular toilet, especially those households who don’t plan for such to happen, but it happens unexpectedly. Such families can try an alternative of getting the ADA compliant toilet with a higher height, or better still, try and create another toilet for such a person.
How to Identify an ADA Toilet
Many people are confused about how the ADA toilet looks, whereas some don’t know the requirements needed for an ADA toilet. The following are the ways of identifying an ADA toilet:
Wide area
The first way to tell an ADA toilet is the vast area. When you enter the toilet once, you see how extensive the area is. This implies that the toilet is an ADA toilet. Not all large toilets are ADA toilets, but most of the time, they are ADA toilets.
The wide area serves many purposes for the disabled; it helps them move inside the toilet and allows them to close the door without obstacles. Another purpose of making the toilet very large is to use the toilet and hold handles that hold toilet rolls comfortably for disabled people.
The toilet height
The toilet height is another way of identifying an ADA toilet. Unlike the average toilet with a standard height, the ADA toilet seat has a higher seat.
The typical height of an ADA Compliant toilet seat is around 16 to 19 inches, which is about 42 to 48 cm high. You might want to ask if you will need to go about with tape to measure the toilet seat height, but you won’t need it because it will be self-evident when you come into contact with an ADA compliant toilet.
The flushing system
The flushing system is another way of identifying ADA toilets. Unlike standard toilets, which typically have buttons on the surface of the toilet, ADA compliant toilets have an easy flushing system that makes flushing easier for disabled people.
At times, the flushing system of most ADA toilets is programmed to act automatically, and most of the time, the flush button is primarily fixed in an easy-to-locate position in the toilet.
Conclusion
Everyone is perfectly made, and no disability should stop anyone from enjoying the rights they are entitled to. The ADA compliant toilet is proof of Americans’ love for their people.
Regardless of their circumstances, they still choose to raise a voice for themselves. That should send a message to every other country that disability is not a disease and not a complete person, as other people shouldn’t limit you from enjoying your fundamental rights.
The faster every country adopts the use of ADA compliant toilets, the better for the country because this act will help to promote love and unity. Your disability is never a limitation unless you choose to believe the lies.
Nevertheless, we hope this article answered all your questions on what ADA compliant toilet is.