You can basically throw the American With Disabilities Act (ADA) out the window. When it comes to shopping or going to restaurants and needing to use the restroom, one can only hope the restroom is accessible. There is nothing the ADA can do for you at the door and can’t get in when you have to go. Many, many places still do not comply to the standards set by the ADA.
You should not have to call ahead, or find out at the last minute that a public facility you are going to visit does not have accessible restrooms. Imagine wheeling to the door of the restroom and not being able to get through. How long can you hold it? Long enough to find an accessible restroom? Maybe.
How often have you gone into a restroom that does have accessible stalls and found someone without a disability using it? Many women (and men) routinely choose the larger, accessible stalls in public restrooms. It’s because they’re roomier.
They provide room to hang a coat without having it fall into the toilet; they’re roomy enough to give women shoppers room to put down purses and packages. They’re even roomy enough to park a baby stroller. Why not make all the stalls the same, larger size?
I’ve been to a few places that also have men and women restrooms and then a third restroom specifically designed as one room. This is usually a large 60 inches X 60 inches room or larger with light switches around 38 inches from the floor. Toilet seats are about 18 inches tall. The door way is at least 3 feet wide. That is an ADA compliant restroom.
No one says you have to have a separate restroom, but when space is limited by your current restrooms, this addition of a third would be more cost effective. The ADA requires accessible restrooms in all public facilities. The grandfather period for existing buildings has passed.
Beyond all the legalities of restrooms, if you want to be customer friendly, don’t hesitate to put in fully accessible restrooms. One person told me they aren’t going back to a certain store, ever, because the restrooms weren’t accessible. Sure, that may be only one person, but just think of the others that won’t mention it and just not go there anymore.
Business is business and every customer should be important. Trust me, if someone can’t get into a public restroom today, what’s to stop them from suing under the ADA tomorrow. Pick up a copy of the ADA and give it a read.