Keep Your Bathrooms Accessible: 3 Tips for Giving Disabled Guests a Comfortable Stay

U.S. travelers with disabilities make about 81 million trips in a year. Make yourself appealing to them.

Traveling should be an experience open to as many people as possible. Hospitality is basically synonymous with comfort and convenience, and that comfort should be available to everyone. But that doesn’t always represent the reality that disabled tourists face.

One common, but not always acknowledged, area that requires easy access is the bathroom.

Easterseals, a disability services provider, says that 30 million Americans use wheelchairs and two-thirds of emergency room visits are the result of bathroom falls. This makes bathroom accessibility in hotels paramount, especially for the approximately 27 million disabled U.S. travelers. In total, these travelers spend about $58.7 billion dollars. Being accessible for people with disabilities is the right thing to do, it’s also a better move for your business. If people with disabilities know you’re able to keep them safer than your competitors, they’re more likely to book with you.

“The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places,” experts from Easterseals say. “The bathroom can present many access challenges to people who use a wheelchair or need accommodations.”

Here are a few ways to make your bathrooms more disability friendly. If it’s too expensive for you to apply to every room in your building, consider creating a handful of rooms that are fully accessible and accommodating to people with disabilities.

1. Grab bars

Grab bars provide stability and support, reducing the risk of slips, falls, and accidents. This is crucial for all guests because, as mentioned before, bathroom slips and falls can put anyone in the hospital. But they’re especially necessary for those with mobility challenges or balance issues. Grab bars make it easier for individuals with disabilities to use the bathroom independently. They serve as aids for transferring from a wheelchair to the toilet or from a seated position to standing. They also provide stability when entering and exiting the shower.

2. Accessible showers

Installing handheld showerheads with adjustable height and spray settings allows guests to control the direction and flow of water. This feature is helpful for individuals who need to shower while seated. If you’re able to, curbless or roll-in showers are incredibly helpful for those who are wheelchair-bound. Be sure to include anti-slip mats. These are helpful in any individual, but even more vital for those with disabilities. You could also provide a seat in the shower for those who can’t stand for extended periods of time.

3. Lowered storage

Keep shelves and cabinets off of high areas on the wall. Putting a towel rack above the toilet, for example, can make fresh towels difficult to access. You can adjust the heights of existing shelving units, cabinets, and storage areas. Ideally, most shelves should be easily accessible from a seated position.

The costs of all these adjustments may vary depending on the structure of existing rooms, however, these are some simpler steps to take. It’s a good idea to add additional precautions if you have the budget to do so.