Considerations

• State and local laws often have their own requirements for accessible design. ADA guidelines are not meant to replace state or local laws but to serve as minimum requirements. The ADA guidelines are not required for private residential homes; however, they serve as a good rule-of-thumb when designing a house plan to accommodate a disabled person.
  
  

Function

• ADA design guidelines serve to protect the rights of disabled persons by ensuring that the space is equally accessible to those with and without disabilities. Accessibility is often provided by ramps, lifts or elevators, or by allowing additional space in certain rooms. The mounting height of fixtures is another important consideration for providing accessibility.
  
  

Suggestions

• Walkways and ramps are more easily accessible for those in wheelchairs if they provide a minimum width of 36 inches. Doorways should provide a minimum of 32 inches of open space for passage. Fixtures should be mounted in lower positions, due to a person's limited reach while sitting in a wheelchair. Protruding objects can be dangerous to a blind person.