The United States Access Board is seeking comments from people with mobility disabilities and their advocates regarding their opinions on the lowest height for examination tables and examination chairs in physicians’ offices and in other healthcare facilities.
The US Access Board is looking to finalize standards for height adjustable medical and diagnostic equipment, which includes examination tables and examination chairs. Presently the US Access Board has established a range between 17 inches and 25 inches above the finished floor.
It is seeking opinions from persons with mobility disabilities as to what they believe should be the proper lowest height – should it be 17 inches or something else? The lower an examination table or examination chair, the easier to facilitate independent transfer onto the table or chair from a person’s mobility device and makes it safer for assisted transfers to and from a persons’ mobility device.
The US Access Board has been soliciting comments from the community of people with mobility disabilities for several months but there have been only a handful of persons sharing their thoughts.
Without direct input from the community of people with mobility disabilities, manufacturers of examination tables and chairs will have their way and will be the majority voice that states what those height standards should be. Persons with mobility disabilities’ voices need to be heard on this issue. Remember, “Nothing About Us Without Us!”
Email mde@access-board.gov through next Friday, May 27, 2022.
Example: “I am a quadriplegic, C-5/C6, and for my safety during transfers I desire the lowest height measurement above the finished floor for examination tables and chairs.” Or “I am a paraplegic and prefer 17 inches above the finished floor for examination tables and examination chairs.” Or “I am an advocate for several persons with mobility disabilities who use mobility devices who need assistance to transfer from their mobility devices onto examination tables and examination chairs. The lowest height for examinations tables and chairs will facilitate safe transfers.”
Your voice matters!
