Toilets Made for Handicapped Individuals

Requirements

• An ADA-compliant toilet is slightly higher than a standard toilet, according to Toilet Warehouse. Handicap toilets must measure 16.5 to 18 inches from the floor to the top of the seat. Standard toilets are 14 to 16 inches high. The ADA also has requirements with respect to toilet location, depending on whether the user is ambulatory or wheelchair-bound, according to Handicapped Equipment.

Types

• When selecting a handicap toilet, you can choose from one of many brands specifically designed to meet the ADA height requirements, or purchase a raised toilet seat that can be installed on an existing standard toilet to make it ADA-compliant. According to Handicapped Equipment, raised toilet seats can be installed in as little as 10 minutes, and provide an inexpensive way to make a toilet accessible for a handicapped user. Portable raised toilet seats also are available for handicapped users to take with them when traveling.

Features

• ADA-compliant toilets have many features as do standard toilets, such as push-button flush and dual flush, which saves water. They are available in various colors, such as white, black, and beige, to complement your decor.

Additional Equipment

• Once a toilet has been made ADA-compliant, you may wish to add some other adaptive equipment. Transfer benches can support up to 400 pounds and are used to help a wheelchair-bound user move from the chair to the toilet seat. Transfer benches also are used to move from the toilet to the tub. Safety rails can be placed on the sides of the toilet for the user to hold onto. Handicap bidets also can be installed on a toilet to facilitate proper hygiene.