How many violations can you see?

[Yankee Chronicler]

"Shelves" (A117.1 604.3.3 / ADAS 604.3.2). I think this boils down to "do you consider a 'floor-mounted' unit like what's in the photo a 'shelf' or something else?".

Somewhere I've seen it explained that s shelf within the clear space for a water closet allows the use of toe and knee vertical space for turning. Beyond that, though, a single occupant toilet room is designed for use by any wheelchair occupant. It has to allow for a front transfer or a side transfer. In a side transfer, the occupant backs the wheelchair into the space between the water closet and the lavatory. For a front transfer, the wheelchair user rolls up to the front of the WC, facing it, then stands up and pivots around to sit on the WC. There can't be anything in the space -- including hung on the wall -- that the wheelchair can't fit under.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

We are still om the 2018 IBC which only says 5% fixed or built-in storage elements are to be accessible. The shelfs shown on the photo are not fixed or built in.

1109.9 Storage. Where fixed or built-in storage elements
such as cabinets, coat hooks, shelves, medicine cabinets,
lockers, closets and drawers are provided in required accessible
spaces, at least 5 percent, but not less than one of each
type shall be accessible.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

But I don't have any handicapped employees!

I've dealt with that quote or its variants too often.

 

[steveray]

I’ve spent most of career designing in California, but have also had occasion to design in non-western cultures, such as in rural Kenya. Our culture’s emphasis on individualism, coupled with our material wealth, has led us to conclude that the best way to grant dignity to persons with disabilities is for technical solutions that allow us to not have to rely on each other for assistance.
In contrast, rural Kenyan culture is community-based and is relatively economically poorer, and they probably have even more persons with physical disabilities per capita, along with shorter lifespans. Yes the Kenyan Building Code has accessibility standards, but the code in general is largely unenforced and not well-known. Instead they rely on giving each other a helping hand. Path not accessible? You will quickly find friends and neighbors carrying each other over obstacles, etc.

I’m not saying we should throw out our accessibility standards, nor am I trying to romanticize poverty, but our process towards making facilities accessible is largely adversarial, suing to achieve features that aid independence, whereas their system relies mostly on neighborliness.

And that works where people are more important than money.....

 

[steveray]

I've dealt with that quote or its variants too often.

I ask them to put up a sign that says "we don't hire cripples" then...That usually shuts them up and they see it for the discrimination that it is....

 

[Inspector Gadget]

.. our process towards making facilities accessible is largely adversarial, suing to achieve features that aid independence, whereas their system relies mostly on neighborliness.

Our system is necessary adversarial because people have lost the sense of humanity and compassion that exists in other cultures.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

I ask them to put up a sign that says "we don't hire cripples" then...That usually shuts them up and they see it for the discrimination that it is....

The line that I use is
"So what you're telling me is that if I've had my leg blown off serving my country in Afghanistan, you won't
- hire me
- let me have a mimosa on your deck
- let me into your restaurant"

The usual response is "That's not what I'm saying."
The counter, "That's exactly what you're saying - you just don't realize it."

I've got a bit of a squabble going on with a business that has a fairly established brand name in this country. They've got a knob on a door that must be barrier-free .... and I'm about to the point of stating to the manager that if they think they're right, they can tell the CBC that they're not interested in making the workplace accessible for disabled people at <insert national chain>.

We are all just temporarily abled.

 

[steveray]

The line that I use is
"So what you're telling me is that if I've had my leg blown off serving my country in Afghanistan, you won't
- hire me
- let me have a mimosa on your deck
- let me into your restaurant"

The usual response is "That's not what I'm saying."
The counter, "That's exactly what you're saying - you just don't realize it."

I've got a bit of a squabble going on with a business that has a fairly established brand name in this country. They've got a knob on a door that must be barrier-free .... and I'm about to the point of stating to the manager that if they think they're right, they can tell the CBC that they're not interested in making the workplace accessible for disabled people at <insert national chain>.

We are all just temporarily abled.

Thats way more PC than my version...