Whether it is our parents, friends, or even ourselves, most of us know someone who deals with a disability. Fortunately, adding accessibility features to your bathroom is not as hard as you may think. There are many types of disabilities that may require different solutions. However, the following tips will give you some guidance on how to make sure that your bathroom renovations are generally accessible for many people with disabilities.

How To Make Mobility Easier

Bathrooms are a small space that can be tricky to navigate. Here are a few ideas to make general mobility easier in the bathroom.

1. Remove obstacles in the bathroom such as cabinets, shelves, and other fixtures that are rarely used. It will make it easier for people with mobility issues to move around without running into anything or falling over.
2. Make sure that the door and walkway inside the bathroom are wide enough so that a wheelchair can pass through easily.
3. Install grab bars in the shower or bathtub as well as near the toilet. This will ensure that people with mobility issues will be able to easily go in and out of the tub or shower or use the toilet without needing assistance from others. It is also helpful to install a hand-held showerhead if you have a tub so that people can use it independently without needing assistance. 
4. Although not a permanent fixture, shower chairs can be a great solution for those who can’t stand for long enough to take a regular shower. They can also be folded up and moved out of the way when not in use.

How To Adjust the Placement and Height of the Toilet

The toilet is arguably the most important part of any bathroom. The following are three suggestions that will help make using the toilet in the bathroom easier.

1. You should choose a toilet that is easy to clean and that has an elongated shape to prevent clogs and provide additional comfort.
2. You need to make sure that all your toilet paper holders are at a height where people with mobility issues can easily reach them. This is important to ensure they won’t have to bend or twist too far to reach the toilet paper.
3. Make sure the toilet is at least thirty-six inches from the ground and there are no steps in front of it. Unless you carefully measure the height of your toilet, you might find that it is either too low or too high. When shopping for toilets, try searching for ADA-height toilets to find the right size.

Design Your Bathroom Based on Needs

There are many ways in which you can design a bathroom to make it more accessible. However, the first step is to consider the users who will most benefit from it. Design your bathroom based on whether they need assistance with mobility or if they have other specific needs for toileting or bathing. The size and shape of the area should also be considered, as well as where fixtures and fittings are located. If possible, consult the disabled person in your life to ask what would benefit them the most.