Height of beds

[Andrew Bichard]

The following is a quote from a thread on DVC-Mouscellaneous (BroganMc' Live Blog fom Disney

My room was on that floor (the Boardwalk view but with the high wall) and I did need some extra help. Maintenance came to lower the bed. (Instead of the HA 20" bed it was a standard 26" bed.) Housekeeper Helen brought me a shower stool, lengthened it so it was just the right height and put the showerhead down so I could use it.

I was unaware that ADA specified lower beds in handicap rooms.

I will be staying at Boardwalk Villas later this year. On previous trips (staying in a 'handicap accessible' room)I have had difficulty transferring from my wheelchair to the bed, because the bed was much too high for a sliding transfer. I would guess it was a standard 26'' bed.

A 20'' bed would be much better, because that would be almost exactly the height of of my wheelchair seat, making transfers much easier.

Is BroganMc correct? Can I ask for the bed to be lowered?

Andrew

 

[BillSears]

Well...you can ask for it to be lowered. I'm not sure if they'll do it.

I do know that standard heights for ADA beds is around 20 inches. It seems not all hotels do this but it sure is nice when I find one that does. I've had major problems getting in and out of those 26" beds, I've even knocked over my wheelchair while doing the transfer and fallen to the floor.

I had an interesting interaction with a manager over at CSR, I do want to make clear he was a great guy and I had no problems with him at all. I had requested a roll-in shower room in the Casitas section. When I checked in they assigned me a room in the Cabanas so I asked if anything was available in the Casitas. The CM at the front desk, also a very nice guy, went back and forth to the back room asking about switching. I was very polite but also insistent that if I could get into the Casitas I really wanted a room there. The Casitas is the first bus stop and we all know how important it is to board a wheelchair before those fold up seats get filled plus I love the quiet pool there and the architecture. Anyway the manager eventually came over to help out and found me a roll-in shower room but he warned it wasn't totally ADA compliant. Later in my stay I was talking to the manager and he asked me if I could tell why the room wasn't ADA compliant. I told him it was the height of the bed and he seemed pleased that I could tell the difference. He told me that they were working on changing all of the CSR roll-in shower rooms to lower the beds but they hadn't done the Casitas section yet.

So Disney does know about the bed height problem and they are working on lowering the beds to a reasonable height for wheelchair transfers.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Well...you can ask for it to be lowered. I'm not sure if they'll do it.

I do know that standard heights for ADA beds is around 20 inches.

If the ADA standard is 20 inches, does Disney have a choice?

My problem is made worse by the softness of the matreses, which collapses at the edge when I sit on it, propelling me off. A bed board helps somewhat, but not completely.

In passing, I should add that good 'disability' practice here in the UK is to provide lower beds, but also to have lifting blocks available that can be fixed under the bed legs to raise them to the most appropriate height.

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

If the ADA standard is 20 inches, does Disney have a choice?

My problem is made worse by the softness of the matreses, which collapses at the edge when I sit on it, propelling me off. A bed board helps somewhat, but not completely.

In passing, I should add that good 'disability' practice here in the UK is to provide lower beds, but also to have lifting blocks available that can be fixed under the bed legs to raise them to the most appropriate height.

Andrew

The old ADA standards didn't have any height requirement for beds.
The new guideline that was published for comments in February 2008 does have height requirements. It was open for public comments until March 31, 2008.
I am not sure if the final document has been published yet; the 3rd draft comment period was sometime in July. Until it has been published as a final document, it is not binding. But, many places do start to meet the draft standards if it appears that what is in the first draft continues unchanged into the later drafts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Funny you should bring this up. I stayed for two nights a couple of weeks ago, then moved to OKW for a week.

The first room was not accessible at all. Well, okay, I didn't look in the tub for grab bars, but the bed was standard height and there were no bars near the toilet.

I could have managed there for two nights because of the sofa bed (I even had it 'made up' with a sheet and blanket, and there was plenty of room for me to sleep without opening it ), but I called Member Services because I was concerned about the apparent miscommunication - I need the lower beds, and OKW doesn't have sofas.

SSR Management called me back and apologized that I'd been assigned to the wrong room, and sent Bell Services to move me. I believe I ended up in room 5112 in the Paddock section. MS also confirmed that I did have an accessible room with a roll-in shower at OKW.

I didn't. I mean, I had the roll-in shower - but standard-height beds. My problem is my height in relation to the top of the mattress, and I did not relish pulling myself up into bed every night.

I called the Front Desk, and they had Engineering call me back. This probably wouldn't work for Bill or Andrew, but my bed frame was removed and the box spring & mattress placed directly on the floor (and then I made the mistake of mentioning it to some DISers with whom I was socializing - who proceeded to tease me about being back in college ).

Now, the last time I was at OKW I had a room with the (apparently) 20" beds, but the Front Desk first claimed all the beds are the same height. When I told the CM my prior experience, she offered to check on the availability of that room - 2510 - but I was thrilled with my location and opted for the no-bed-frame offer.

 

[SueM in MN]

I didn't. I mean, I had the roll-in shower - but standard-height beds. My problem is my height in relation to the top of the mattress, and I did not relish pulling myself up into bed every night.

I called the Front Desk, and they had Engineering call me back. This probably wouldn't work for Bill or Andrew, but my bed frame was removed and the box spring & mattress placed directly on the floor (and then I made the mistake of mentioning it to some DISers with whom I was socializing - who proceeded to tease me about being back in college ).

Now, the last time I was at OKW I had a room with the (apparently) 20" beds, but the Front Desk first claimed all the beds are the same height. When I told the CM my prior experience, she offered to check on the availability of that room - 2510 - but I was thrilled with my location and opted for the no-bed-frame offer.

We will be staying at OKW in a week, so I can check and post the height of the bed in our room.

This is a good summary of the changes in the guidelines - it is not an official set of guidelines, but is apparently from a presentation about the guidelines.
It does say that the final guidelines will not be adopted until late 2008 or early 2009, so it is not in effect yet. I can't find a copy of the new guidelines on line, which is the usual thing to happen after the time period has passed for comments on guidelines.

The bed height listed in the summary of changes is 17 to 19 inches and it says at least one side of the bed should be open for use with a lift.

 

[dclfun]

When we stayed in one of the new AKLV one bedroom villas the king bed in the master bedroom was so high that even my chair, with an 8" elevating seat, didn't bring me up to transfer on a level basis. When I was asked to speak with their "decorating" department, two men came up and I pointed out all the problems with accessibility in this particular room. Since it was just built, I don't know why they didn't have someone proactive vs. waiting until it was too late and having to retrofit the room. I mentioned that anyone in a w/c would have to pole vault to get in that bed!---Kathy

 

[Andrew Bichard]

This is a good summary of .....

Great minds think alike!!!

I spent part of yesterday on the internet trying to find the draft ADA regulations on bed heights.

The two most promising links that google found for me were that same link you found, plus .... this thread!!

I have had trouble with bed heights on each of my previous two trips, and even thought that my next trip might have to be my last. Now I know it isn't me, I won't feel guilty asking for my bed to be lowered. I will print up the page with the new reccomended bed heights to take with me when I next visit.

Andrew
Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

Great minds think alike!!!

I spent part of yesterday on the internet trying to find the draft ADA regulations on bed heights.

Yep, there probably is nothing left to find.
I've got a lot of experience with health care regulations and guidelines. They always have several drafts, with a period for comments after that version of the draft is published. After the comment period passes, that version of the draft is deleted and you probably won't find it unless someone saved a copy and posted it on a private website.
As far as I can tell, it looks like the last comment period ended July 31, 2008 or so. How long it will take to get a final version depends on how many comments are made and how controversial the new guidelines are.

 

[jeffrey orl fla]

I see this is a little old - has there been any new information of the approval of these proposed codes since then?