WTF*

*Why this fiasco?

The image above shows good intention but very poor execution and what can happen when an ADA Standards and Usability specialist is not consulted.

This bathroom is at an upscale restaurant in Dallas. The rectangular shadow is a sink. The doorstop was put in to make sure people washing their hands weren’t hit by the door as it opened. The unintended effect was that the door no longer opened wide enough to allow a power wheelchair through. They have made their bathroom non-compliant to ADA Standards with this choice.

Fiascos like this happen, often.

I typically find three reasons for it.

1. Somebody in the position to make changes was unaware of the impacts;

2. or, they didn’t think it would affect their ability to get and retain customers;

3. or, they thought nobody would speak out.

The silence has ended.

Reach out to learn more

Below is a small gallery of bad and illegal decisions.

Tucson, 3-star hotel chain

looking across a bed to sliding doors that lead to a balcony

This door to the balcony was less than 32”: It may not be obvious that the bedside table blocks access to the balcony.

shower in hotel with soap dispensers mounted above the bench seat

The L-shaped portion is supposed to be against the long wall. The soap pumps are unreachable when sitting down.

hotel bathroom with toilet and sink with exposed pipes

The hair dryer is at the back of the cabinet behind the toilet between the towel stacks; plus there are two more issues.

Lubbock, 2-star hotel chain

bathtub transfer bench sitting at skewed angle in tiled shower

This is a bathtub transfer bench, not a bench for a shower. All roll-in showers in hotel rooms are required to have a built-in bench.

The bench is missing the rubber foot on the back leg. This is completely unsafe for the user!

Phoenix restaurant

black green and yellow tiled public bathroom with soap dispenser on the mirror-side of the paper towel dispenser

The soap dispenser is not reachable while sitting, removing the wheelchair user's access to proper hygiene.

Independent hotel in a tourist area, Arizona

screenshot from hotel website showing room styles

sreenshot from webpage stating amenities and that persons requiring ADA room must call the hotel

Website lists the room types, but not which are ADA Mobility rooms. A Deluxe King was selected and this note was at the bottom of the screen. In 2013, it became a requirement for hotels to provide online booking for ADA rooms.

Bathroom in the “proper accommodations” that were assigned

multi-mosaic floor tile and pull under sink vanity in hotel room bathroom

toile with grab bar, decorative boxes holding spare towels above the toilet

The roll-under sink with countertop is nice. Unfortunately the towels are unreachable over the toilet.

Shower, entryway, and bedroom area in the “proper accommodations” that were assigned.

hotel room shower with subway wall tiles and a single horizontal grab bar and a small freestanding teak bench

The shower entry is wide enough, but the tiny bench is unstable.

rest of the shower compartment with two horizontal grab bars showing shower head and valve

The shower head was left out of reach by anyone seated.

hotel room door propped open by trash can with full-length mirror and coat hooks visible behind the door

The coat hooks are set at the maximum allowable height.

freestanding cabinet with small refridgerator and coffee maker and iron all reachable but the spare blanket is on the topmost shelf

Plusses and minuses here. Check out the location for the extra blanket.

wooden floor with planking in v-pattern and platform bed piled with multiple colored pillows

The platform on this bed makes using a portable lift impossible.

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas

screenshot of Bellagio website describing Accessible Rooms

The hotel offers a number of different accessible rooms which you can directly see and book online, but they also recommend calling the hotel.

Buried deep in a blog (in Feb 2023) I was able to find this floorplan.

King Accessible room with a Lift. The large bedside tables block access for independent transfer.

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, ADA Mobility Room with lift and roll-in shower

ceiling track going from toilet disappearing into entry door of shower in hotel bathroom

view of track going into opening of shower

bench grab bars and shower head visible through opened door of shower

another view of bench and bars and showerhead with controls

Surehands lift track from toilet into roll-in shower and there are well-placed grab bars next to toilet and in the shower. But, the overhead track is oddly placed and doesn’t reach the shower’s built-in bench. A solo wheelchair user would have to transfer, without using the lift and then be unable to close the shower door.