Introduction
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006), which was signed on behalf of Russian Federation September 24, 2008 and ratified May 3, 2012 defines international approaches to the creation accessible environment life activities for persons with disabilities health. One of the issues relevant to the Russian Federation is increasing the availability of sanitary and hygienic facilities for this category of citizens.
The world community celebrates November 19 as “World Toilet Day.” It was announced precisely so that toilets around the world would become an increasingly pleasant, bright and clean place. As part of this unusual holiday, various events are held in many countries aimed at attracting public attention to places common use and improving the toilet system nationwide. This day serves as a reminder to humanity that 42% of the planet's population does not have the opportunity to relieve their natural needs in specially designated places due to the lack of them.
In St. Petersburg, in 7 districts of the city, a study was conducted on the accessibility of residential premises for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs (sample size was more than 200 people). The results of the study showed that 40.4% of respondents have the opportunity to use a toilet and bathroom in their own apartments; This area of the apartment is not accessible and is not used at all by 59.6% of disabled people.
The main barriers due to which disabled people using a wheelchair experience difficulties in using sanitary and hygienic facilities are the following:
- they are not able to enter this premises in a wheelchair due to their narrowness, as well as the small width of doorways and the presence of thresholds - 68.3% of respondents;
- lack of additional equipment of bathrooms and toilets with bars, handrails, lifts, etc. - 55.0% of respondents;
- difficulties when using a washbasin (cannot reach the tap or open it) - 40.8% of disabled people; do not use showers and baths, they are out of reach - 30.4% of respondents;
- difficulties when moving from a wheelchair to the bathroom, requiring additional seating (or other technical means) - 49.6% of respondents;
- the impossibility of quickly responding to changes in water temperature, requiring the installation of thermostats that limit the flow of water above 50 degrees - 91.7% of respondents; thermostats with an appropriate filtration system are installed in only 6.7% of wheelchair users;
- For 36.3% of respondents, the height of the toilet is not comfortable;
- 42.5% of respondents experienced inconvenience due to the slippery floor in the bathroom.
International and Russian legislation in the field of creating an accessible living environment
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes international principles creating an accessible living environment, which can be used to create barrier-free sanitary and hygienic premises for people with disabilities.
Principle "universal design" means the design of objects, environments, programs and services to make them usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or special design. Universal Design does not exclude assistive devices for specific disability groups where needed.
Principle "reasonable accommodation" means making, where appropriate in a particular case, necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments, without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, in order to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy or enjoy, on an equal basis with others, all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe, measures to inform the population and disseminate knowledge on creating an accessible living environment should be focused on groups of people ensuring accessibility during construction, design of buildings and the human environment, and should cover all types of disabilities (motor, sensory and mental) :
- disabled people, both individuals and members of interest groups;
- service sector workers, teachers, product manufacturers, etc.;
- architects, urban planners and designers, clients, funding and subsidizing bodies belonging to both local, regional and state authorities, and private organizations;
- policy makers, maintenance workers, cleaners, security guards, etc.
In the Russian Federation, the issues of creating an accessible environment for people with disabilities are regulated by a number of regulatory documents:
- Civil Code of the Russian Federation (parts one and two, respectively, Federal Laws of the Russian Federation dated November 30, 1994 No. 51-FZ and dated January 26, 1996 No. 14-FZ);
- Town Planning Code (Federal Law of the Russian Federation dated December 29, 2004 No. 191-FZ);
- Federal Law of November 24, 1995 N 181-FZ (as amended on December 28, 2013) “On the social protection of disabled people in the Russian Federation”;
- Federal Law of December 27, 2002 N 184-FZ (as amended on December 28, 2013) “On Technical Regulation”;
- Federal Law of December 30, 2009 N 384-FZ “Technical Regulations on the Safety of Buildings and Structures”;
- Federal Law of November 17, 1995 N 169-FZ “On architectural activities in the Russian Federation”;
- other laws in priority areas of life;
- regulations.
In the field of urban planning in the Russian Federation and its constituent entities there is document system on issues of creating an accessible living environment for people with disabilities and people with limited mobility. Federal level documents include:
- building codes and regulations of the Russian Federation(SNiP), which establish mandatory requirements that define the goals that must be achieved and the principles that must be followed in the process of creating construction products;
- state standards of the Russian Federation in the field of construction - (GOST R), which establish mandatory and recommended provisions that define specific parameters and characteristics of individual parts of buildings and structures, construction products and materials and ensure technical unity in the development, production and operation of these products;
- codes of practice for design and construction(SP), establishing recommended provisions for the development and provision of mandatory requirements of building codes, rules and general technical standards of the system or on certain independent issues not regulated by mandatory standards;
- system governing documents(RDS) - establish mandatory and recommended organizational and methodological procedures for carrying out activities in the field of development and application of regulatory documents in construction, architecture, urban planning, design and surveys.
Documents of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation include territorial building codes(TSN), which establish mandatory and recommended provisions for use within the relevant territories, taking into account natural, climatic and social characteristics, national traditions and economic opportunities of the republics, territories and regions of Russia.
SNiP 35-01-2001 “Accessibility of buildings and structures for people with limited mobility” is the main document of the 35th complex of the System of regulatory documents in construction. It was developed on the basis of current standards for the accessibility of buildings and structures for people with disabilities, taking into account foreign norms, standards and recommendations.
Currently, the provisions of these building codes and regulations have been finalized and an updated version of SNiP 35-01-2001 has been published. The basis for the development of the project normative document were served by the Federal Law of December 30, 2009 No. 384-FZ “Technical Regulations “On the Safety of Buildings and Structures” and the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 21, 2010 No. 1047-r. The update was carried out as part of the implementation of clause 2 of the Action Plan to create a barrier-free environment for the purposes of holding the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi. The draft Code of Practice has been developed in accordance with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006).
The updated document emphasizes that design solutions for facilities that meet accessibility requirements must ensure:
- their reach to places of target visit and unimpeded movement within buildings and structures and their territories;
- safety of traffic routes (including evacuation and rescue routes), as well as places of residence, service and employment;
- evacuation of people (taking into account the characteristics of disabled people and other groups of the population with limited mobility) to a safe zone before possible harm to their life and health due to exposure to fire factors;
- timely receipt by all groups of the population of complete and high-quality information that allows them to navigate in space, use equipment (including for self-service), receive services, participate in the labor and training process, etc.;
- convenience and comfort of the living environment for all groups of the population.
Since 1996, “Recommendations for the design of environment, buildings and structures taking into account the needs of people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups.” The published collections contain recommendations for the design of environmental elements, buildings and structures taking into account the needs of people with disabilities, functional areas, information and orientation media, entrances to buildings and premises, ramps, stairs, as well as parameters of various zones and spaces. They are intended mainly for engineering and technical workers of design and construction organizations, and also as information for specialists of authorities social protection population.
Population groups in need of accessible sanitary facilities in public buildings and residential premises
The bulk of the provisions of building codes and regulations apply to people with disabilities with disorders of the functions and structure of the musculoskeletal system, including those using various walking aids and wheelchairs when moving. Specific Features disabled people in this category have the greatest influence on the design of buildings taking into account low-mobility groups of the population. Persons with impaired functions and structure of the musculoskeletal system in their anthropometric and ergonometric characteristics differ significantly from healthy people. They experience difficulties in moving, including in cramped spaces, in overcoming various obstacles in the form of thresholds, high sides, etc., as well as in using ordinary furniture and equipment.
Equally important when designing and constructing buildings is taking into account the requirements of people with visual impairment. In this case, two main groups can be distinguished: blind people and visually impaired people. Visually impaired people who do not have impaired anthropometric structure of the body use a cane that increases the size of ordinary people. In addition, these disabled people experience difficulties in movement and orientation. When designing bathrooms in this case, it is necessary to provide a system of additional landmarks: a contrasting combination of color and texture of materials, sound signals, special guides and warning devices, relief signs, etc.
People with hearing disabilities are close in their anthropometric characteristics to people without disabilities and do not require adjustments to the basic parameters of environmental elements, buildings and structures. However, these people have difficulty in orientation and therefore in buildings and structures it is necessary to take into account a number of requirements for the installation of additional visual and light information, as well as electro-acoustic devices.
Fulfilling the requirements for creating an accessible environment makes it possible for people with disabilities to use buildings and structures. light forms mental defects, disabled people with functional impairments internal organs, as well as elderly and frail people.
Differences in the ability to use sanitary facilities make it possible to distinguish several groups of people with disabilities in accordance with the edition of SP 35-102-2001, updated in 2011, “Living environment with planning elements accessible to people with disabilities” (Table 1).
Table 1.
Various groups people with disabilities who need assistance in performing sanitary and hygienic procedures (updated edition of SP 35-102-2001)
| Group of citizens with disabilities | Characteristics of the need for assistance in performing sanitary and hygienic procedures | |
| Classifying feature | Including | |
| Requiring assistance with movement, undressing, and hygiene. | Persons with significant impairments of movement and intelligence. | Requires assistance from co-residents or staff, lift, transfer area. |
| Requiring some assistance in the hygiene cycle. | Young children, persons in wheelchairs with slightly or moderately impaired hand and intellectual function. | Additional space is required for independent maneuver in a wheelchair, a transfer area, handrails and bars. |
| Virtually no need for outside help. | Persons in wheelchairs with intact hand function and intelligence. | Additional area is required for independent maneuver in a wheelchair, a transfer area, handrails and bars; but smaller area. |
| Those using crutches, a cane, i.e. whose movement is difficult. | Persons with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, post-stroke patients with moderate impairments of movement function. | The presence of support elements (handrails, bars) is required, while the area sanitary unit there should be slightly more than usual standards (within 20%). |
Recommendations for planning and arrangement of sanitary facilities for persons with disabilities
Specific recommendations for the planning and arrangement of sanitary facilities for people with disabilities are set out in the 2011 edition of the Code of Rules for Design and Construction SP 35-102-2001 “Living environment with planning elements accessible to people with disabilities” (Table 2).
| Bathroom element | Features of design and/or arrangement |
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
|
|
They should, as a rule, open outward (when opening doors inward, the sanitary unit must have increased dimensions). |
|
|
Locks on the door |
|
|
Wheelchair turning area |
In sanitary facilities, wheelchair rotation must be ensured by 360° (diameter 1.5-1.6 m); When a wheelchair approaches the toilet, an area must be reserved for turning the chair 90°. |
|
Arrangement of furniture and equipment |
It may be recommended to use a variant arrangement of sanitary equipment that takes into account individual requests, as well as the ability to adjust the height of the installed equipment. It is rational to install the equipment in a united front along one of the walls, which makes it easier for the wheelchair to maneuver. In order to reduce the number of movements, it is possible to use toilets combined with a bidet. |
|
Toilet seats |
For persons in wheelchairs, they should be located at the height of the wheelchair seat (0.5 m). To raise the toilet seat from the nominal height (0.45 m), additional pads or seats should be used. |
|
Washbasin, sink |
It is advisable to install at a height of 0.85 m, which allows direct access to a wheelchair. Must be console type. It is advisable to ensure the reach of the washbasin from both the wheelchair and the toilet. |
|
Bathroom taps |
Must be provided with elbow type openers and equipped with thermostats that limit the incoming water temperature to 50 °C. |
|
Bathtub bottom level |
Should, as a rule, be located at the floor level; It is allowed to provide a step up to 0.15 m high near the bathroom. |
|
Additional seat for transferring from wheelchair to bathtub seat |
Should be provided in the bathroom for disabled people using wheelchairs |
|
Floor finishing |
Must be made from non-slip materials |
|
Additional equipment for sanitary facilities |
As a rule, it includes handrails (wall or floor installation and fixation), ceiling guides or an interwall rod for hanging a lift, ring, trapezoid, etc. The installation height of the equipment must be adjusted individually. |
|
Wall handrails |
In equipment-free areas at a height of 0.9 m with a diameter of 50 mm |
|
Fastening rods, handrails, hanging elements of additional equipment |
Must have reinforced fastening designed for a dynamic load of at least 120 kgf. The diameter of the support rods is 25-32 mm. |
|
Use of the shower for wheelchair users |
Should be done while sitting on a special bench |
|
For people with visual impairments |
A system of additional guidelines: contrasting combinations of color and texture, materials, sound signals, special guides and warning devices, relief and silhouette tables and signs, etc. |
|
For people with hearing impairments |
Device of additional visual and light information, as well as electro-acoustic devices. |
Sanitary facilities for disabled people can be designed combined or separate. For disabled people with lesions of the musculoskeletal system, as a rule, combined sanitary facilities are used, equipped with a toilet, washbasin and bath or shower. Sitz baths or polybaths with a seat, baths with opening side doors, etc. are recommended.
It may be recommended to use a variant arrangement of sanitary equipment that takes into account individual requests, as well as the ability to adjust the height of the installed equipment. It is rational to install the equipment in a united front along one of the walls, which makes it easier for the wheelchair to maneuver.
In institutions medical and social examination And rehabilitation centers training apartments for the disabled are equipped for the disabled. The photographs show an example of the equipment of a sanitary unit of an apartment in the department of social and domestic rehabilitation of the Federal State Institution “Main Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise in the Krasnoyarsk Territory” (Krasnoyarsk).
Fig.1. An example of installing washbasins and mirrors in a bathroom (FKU "Glavnoye" ITU Bureau in the Krasnoyarsk Territory")
Fig.2-3. Examples of installing toilets and handrails (FKU “Main ITU Bureau for the Krasnoyarsk Territory”)
Fig.4. An example of a bathroom with an opening side (FKU “Main ITU Bureau for the Krasnoyarsk Territory”)
Fig.5. An example of installing a seat and shower equipment for a shower corner (FKU “Main ITU Bureau for the Krasnoyarsk Territory”)
Technical means for arranging bathrooms and performing hygiene procedures
State standard R 51079-2006 “Technical means of rehabilitation of people with disabilities. Classification" classifies technical means, which can be used to equip toilets and bathrooms as follows:
- equipment for bathrooms (special);
- technical means for washing, bathing and showering;
- technical hair care products;
- technical products for face and body skin care.
Equipment for bathrooms (special) includes:
- toilets;
- urinals;
- urine collection tanks;
- bidet;
- lifting devices;
- toilet chairs (with or without wheels) with or without sanitary equipment, including shower chairs;
- toilets, including toilets with armrests, supports, handrails, child rests, as well as toilets with elevations and with built-in hygienic warm-water showers and (or) hot-air dryers;
- warm water showers and warm air dryers for equipping toilets;
- toilet seats (toilet seats);
- raised and self-raising toilet seats;
- accessories for lifts for fixing the human body;
- separate elevated floor toilet seats;
- raised folding toilet seats located directly on toilets (water closets)
- toilet seats with an elevation, fixed (fixed) permanently to the toilet using bolts or brackets;
- toilet seats with built-in lifting mechanism;
- toilet armrests and (or) backrests mounted on toilets;
- toilet seats;
- supporting armrests;
- toilet paper holders;
- toilet roll holders, including toilet paper dispenser boxes;
- warm water showers and hot air dryers for equipping the toilet;
- toilet cabins, including mobile toilet cabins;
- other.
To the means for washing, bathing and showering relate:
- auxiliary means of moving (carrying);
- lifting devices;
- stationary support devices;
- sanitary equipment;
- holders (adapters);
- bath or shower chairs (with or without wheels), stools, backrests and seats;
- toilet chairs (with or without wheels);
- anti-slip mats for baths and showers;
- anti-slip materials for floors and stairs;
- shower installations, including clamps for adjusting the position of the shower head (nozzle);
- hanging beds for washing in the bath, tables for the bathroom and tables for toilet and changing;
- suspended loungers for mobile and stationary household lifts;
- bath basins;
- bidet;
- hygienic warm water showers and (or) hygienic warm air dryers built into toilets;
- warm water showers and warm air dryers for equipping toilets (separate);
- bathtubs, including portable and folding bathtubs;
- bath shelves;
- means for regulating the water level in the bath, including indicators of the water level in the bath (with an alarm device);
- sponges and bath brushes with holders, handles or clamps;
- soap dispensers with handles and soap dispensers;
- means for drying the body;
- hygienic hot-air dryers built into toilets;
- hot air dryers for equipping toilets (separate);
- hair dryers;
- bathing equipment, including swimming belts, swimming caps;
- air tubes for scuba diving;
- bath thermometers.
Hair care products include:
- hair washing products, including shampoo dispensers, shampoo sprayers with a flexible hose with special handles;
- combs and hair brushes;
- hair dryers;
- auxiliary means and (or) replacing the function of the arm and (or) hand and (or) fingers;
- dental care products;
- toothpaste dispensers;
- tube squeezer keys;
- toothbrushes, including toothbrushes with an extended handle;
- auxiliary means and (or) replacing the function of the arm and (or) hand and (or) fingers;
- toothbrushes with mechanical drive (electric drive).
To the group face and body skin care products combined:
- means to help apply cosmetics;
- products for skin protection and skin care;
- razors and accessories, electric shavers, including shaving brushes, electric razor holders, shaving cream dispensers;
- auxiliary means and (or) replacing the function of the arm and (or) hand and (or) fingers;
- tube squeezer keys;
- means for applying cosmetics (make-up), including cosmetic holders;
- mirrors with special handles, including mirror holders;
- mirrors for irrigation and installation of catheters.
Thus, today in the Russian Federation an extensive regulatory and methodological basis to address issues of adapting sanitary facilities to the needs of people with limited mobility.
Literature:
1. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: adopted by resolution 61/106 of the UN General Assembly on December 13, 2006. Access mode: http://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/conventions/disability.shtml
3. Problems of disabled people when moving in wheelchairs in residential premises and social infrastructure facilities / O.N. Vladimirova, T.N. Shelomanova, I.E. Makedonova, M.V. Rokhmanova, O.A. Nazarkina // Bulletin All-Russian Guild of Prosthetists and Orthopedists, 2012 - No. 1-2 (47-48). — P.54-57
4. Recommendation Rec(2006)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the Council of Europe Action Plan to promote the rights and full participation of persons with disabilities in society: improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in Europe, 2006-2015. Approved by the Committee of Ministers on April 5, 2006 at the 961st meeting of the permanent representatives of ministers.
Author of the article
Vladimirova O.N., Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Healthcare Organization, Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation, Scientific Secretary of the St. Petersburg Institute for Advanced Training of Medical Experts of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.
In accordance with federal law RF " " in all projects of residential buildings of the mass series P3M, P44T, P44K, P46M, KOPE, GMS2001 and a number of others, a variant of the ground floor planning solution is provided with the arrangement of 1-2-3-4-room specialized apartments for families, including which includes a wheelchair user.
An infographic prepared based on data provided by the State Unitary Enterprise MNIITEP will help you get acquainted with the features of the arrangement and layout of apartments for people with limited mobility.
Even a familiar home can suddenly become an obstacle course for a wheelchair user. He needs the so-called barrier-free environment first of all in his own apartment and only then outside it. Therefore, it is so important to equip the existing living space to meet the individual requirements of special residents.
First of all, as architect Anastasia Topoeva advises, it is necessary to expand the space for movement.
The arrangement of furniture should provide a free space of at least 1.5 meters for turning around a wheelchair.
Doorways need to be widened to a width of at least 0.9 meters, and interior corridors, albeit to the detriment of other rooms, to 1.15 meters - otherwise the possibility of free movement around the apartment for a disabled person will be limited.
A passage at least 0.915 meters wide must also be provided on at least one side of the bed.
Door handles, switches, plumbing fixtures, household appliances and other important household items, it is fundamentally important to place them at an accessible height: no more than 1.1 meters and no less than 0.85 meters from the floor.
A seemingly harmless interior threshold can easily become a serious obstacle, so they must be smoothed out or removed altogether - the height of the threshold should not exceed 13 millimeters.
The most difficult thing to implement this will be in the case of a balcony, since it is usually on a different level than the entire apartment, but you can, for example, raise the floor level on the balcony.
It is also extremely important to expand the access to the balcony.
If there is a shortage of space in corridors and rooms, it is better to replace ordinary swing doors with sliding sliding doors.
Sliding doors will become a more convenient replacement for sliding wardrobes. It is more convenient to get things out of them, since in this case you can drive up close in a wheelchair.
You will have to think in advance about the dimensions of tables in an apartment where a person with limited mobility lives: the height of the table should be no more than 75 centimeters from the floor level, the width should be no less than 75 centimeters and the depth should be no less than 49 centimeters.
The bathroom, as the most dangerous place in the house, must be equipped with special handrails so that the disabled person has something to hold on to.
In the kitchen, it is better to replace the gas stove with an electric one, which, as we know, is safer in everyday life.
It is useful to add LED lamps with changing color scenarios to the apartment lighting, Topoeva insists. Firstly, changing lighting color affects the perception of space. It does not seem static and monotonous, which is important for people who are forced to spend most of their time within four walls. Secondly, colored lighting essentially replaces chromotherapy (light and color treatment), which has a positive effect on psycho-emotional state person and his general well-being.
Unfortunately, many of us know how difficult it is to care for a disabled or elderly person who is no longer able to cope independently. Such care requires not only patience, endurance, kindness, but a lot of strength. Nowadays, more and more devices and devices are appearing that will help create conditions in an apartment or house that are as comfortable as possible for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Bathing a person with disabilities in a regular bath is, of course, inconvenient. For such cases, they created a special bathtub with a side door. It’s convenient, you don’t need to put a person over the high side, there are handrails to hold on to. The door closes hermetically, and the system controls the overflow of water. Some models are equipped with hydromassage
For wheelchair users, a seat was invented that can be controlled mechanically or have an electric drive. He moved, moved to the bathroom, and took a bath. With the help of such a seat, a person with disabilities can do this independently
The only disadvantage of the devices we presented is the high price.
A more affordable and simpler option is a bath seat, which is placed on the sides and allows you to hygiene procedures with great comfort. In this case, you will also need a step, which can be bought or replaced with an ordinary low and fairly wide bench attached to the bathtub
In general, all plumbing in the bathroom should be adapted for a person with limited mobility. The toilet is no exception, as is the sink. Handrails on the sides of the toilet will help a person move from a wheelchair independently. The sink should be installed lower than usual so that it can be used while sitting. Handrails can be stationary, folding or rotating
Lifting a lying person out of bed is simply physically difficult. In this case, a special lift will come to the rescue, which can be moved around the house if necessary.
In this case, a regular sports corner for apartments was used as a device to help a person with disabilities get out of bed. Wall bars, rings - a person will be able to pull himself up and move to wheelchair or use a portable toilet with grab bars
If a person with limited mobility lives in a house with two floors, he usually has to be content with only the first floor, because the stairs turn into a difficult obstacle. However, an electric lifting mechanism with a comfortable chair solves this problem. Again, the only disadvantage is the high cost of such a system.
Showers are considered for people with limited mobility the best option than a bath. It is necessary to take care of a seat under the shower and a reliable handrail nearby. In addition, it is desirable that the shower stall has no steps or sides at all.
A shower stall without a tray with a wide door can be accessed directly by a stroller. In this case there is no need for a seat
For a bedridden person, it would be advisable to purchase a special bed that will make both his position and his care easier. The backrest is raised, the base is orthopedic, it avoids diaper rash, there is a stand with a handle, so a separate lift is not really needed
If we are talking about arranging a kitchen for a wheelchair user, then the main obstacle will be the lower cabinets, which prevent access to the work surface. It’s not that hard to get rid of them, just like making sure that the microwave and hob are in an accessible area
It seems like these are little things, but for people with musculoskeletal disorders and the elderly, even eating turns into a challenge. A special set of dishes will help them eat on their own. In addition to spoons with such devices that fit on the hand, there are cutlery with wider, non-slip handles. For people with Alzheimer's disease, it is recommended to choose the handles of spoons and forks, as well as unbreakable red plates, which helps them better distinguish objects
A modern wheelchair with an electric control system, a lifting seat and many other devices is a very convenient thing, but, unfortunately, it costs a lot
A smart home system is quite expensive, but you can use its individual elements. A person with limited mobility should have at hand not only a remote control for the TV, but also for the air conditioner, as well as for controlling blinds and curtains. You can now also close or open a window remotely; there are special systems for this
Which building is considered accessible to people with disabilities? How to make a building accessible to disabled people? What requirements must a store accessible to people with limited mobility meet?
First of all, you need to understand that people with disabilities are different. They are usually divided into 4 categories: 1) wheelchair users; 2) disabled people with musculoskeletal disorders; 3) visually impaired (blind and visually impaired); 4) people with hearing impairments (deaf and hard of hearing). Accessibility for each category of disabled people is determined individually. For example, a visually impaired person may find it easy to climb steps, but they may simply not notice the entrance to a store if it is not highlighted with an audible beacon and/or tactile tiles.
First of all, these provisions apply to newly constructed facilities, although when reconstructing old ones it is possible to apply some of the norms.
Landscaping of the area next to the building
Even if your store is accessible to people with disabilities, you need to make sure the surrounding area is accessible. For example, there is a ramp when entering the sidewalk, and the passage across the road itself is marked with tactile tiles. Also, according to the law, 10% of parking spaces (but not less than 1 space) must be allocated for vehicles disabled people. They are marked with a special sign and cannot engage in other transport.
A set of works to adapt the entrance to the building for disabled people of all categories
- The entrance should be at sidewalk level or equipped with a staircase with handrails convenient for the disabled. First and last step painted in a contrasting color, in front of the stairs there is a strip of tactile tiles for the visually impaired
- For wheelchair users, the entrance is equipped with a ramp, and if it is impossible to install it with a wheelchair lift
- An upper platform measuring less than 2.2 x 2.2 meters will be inconvenient for a person in a wheelchair
- Automatic sliding doors or easy-open doors
- A doorway (preferably without a threshold, or with a threshold of less than 2.5 cm) with a width of at least 90 centimeters.
- Sound beacon at the entrance for the visually impaired
- It is advisable to highlight the entrance to the store with a contrasting color or architectural design.
- The inscriptions "ENTRANCE" and "EXIT" are applied in contrasting colors on the corresponding door
- The sign with the name of the store and opening hours is made tactile (with raised letters or Braille)
Also, do not forget that store accessibility can be ensured organizational ways. For example, a button to call a salesperson to make a purchase without going up to the store, or the ability to call an employee to install a portable ramp, or for assistance in climbing a steep ramp, for transportation on a lift. If the openings do not meet the requirements, a narrower stroller may be provided for the duration of the visit.
our clients
Children's disabled carriage Ortonica PUMA
Mobility aids for disabled people
Wheelchairs and gurneys are necessary for the smooth movement of people with disabilities. Their device matches international standards, and the means of mobility for disabled people themselves are distinguished by a high degree of comfort and functionality.
Features of wheelchairs
Exist different kinds supporting devices and strollers for people with disabilities. They can be used outdoors or at home. There are also special models for children and fat people. Special attention It is worth paying attention to a device for the disabled with sanitary supplies (the set includes a bedpan and a special seat).
Multifunctional models are equipped with the option of adjusting the tilt of the armrests, legs and backrest.
Wheelchairs are equipped with:
- control panel with sound signal;
- brakes;
- folding footrests;
- reflectors;
- pneumatic or solid tires;
- anti-tip agents and so on.
When choosing a vehicle, you should take into account the weight of the disabled person and its parameters (they must correspond to the width of the chair). You also need to pay attention to the weight of the product, this parameter is especially important in houses where there are no ramps.
Electric vehicles - good help in the movement of disabled people.
Depending on the model and purpose, they will have different characteristics.
