Tables in the Accessible Home

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Basic features to consider in table selection include construction, surface reflection, clearance for chair use, and height to support the task. These features become critical for people who may need to lean on the table for support, are susceptible to surface glare, or require specific heights and clearances to meet their needs.

A sturdy table may be necessary for support. When evaluating table construction, look for blocking in the leg joints. The joints should also be glued and screwed. Consistency of the type of wood used is a sign of quality construction.

Table and desk surfaces should reflect from 30 to 50 percent of light that falls on them. Darker woods, including rosewood and walnut, reflect as little as 9 percent. A white top reflects too much light and can tire the eyes. Shiny and glossy surfaces also produce too much glare. Select dull greens and beiges or light oak, maple, cherry, and teak for proper light reflectance (1).

A round or oval top on a pedestal base allows an approach from all directions. Specify a stable base which will support a person who leans on the edge of the top.

Select a table with a border clearly identifying the edge. A slight reveal will keep spills off the floor without accumulating dirt. A raised edge makes some tasks difficult from a seated position. Specify a round table or a table without sharp corners to prevent bruising. An adjustable-height table will allow a user to raise the table for detailed projects and reading.

In the dining room, a 60 in round table can comfortably seat six, including one person in a wheelchair. If the diameter is increased to 66 in, seven can be seated, including one person in a wheelchair. Eight can be seated around a 72 in table, including one person in a wheelchair. These estimates are based on dining room chairs that are 23 in wide.

A square table (54 x 54 in) can seat four people in wheelchairs. For rectangular tables, allow 24 in for each dining chair and 30 in for each wheelchair user. Children's tables should be adjustable in height.

The size, height, shape of the top, and type of base may all limit the approach by people who use mobility assistance devices. Children and adults of shorter stature in wheelchairs typically require a knee space of 24 in (2) a.f.f. Low cross bars between table legs may prohibit wheel chair access. Cross bars should be recessed a minimum of 19 in from the front edge of the table. Skirt boards should be recessed a minimum of 12 in (3). Trestle tables are often high enough to meet these requirements.

Pedestal tables allow closer access if the base does not interfere with the wheelchair footrests. Bases should be heavily weighted to prevent accidental overturning. A table with legs is more stable than a table with a pedestal base. Rubber or upholstered legs resist chair abrasion. A table with a minimum clearance of 27 in a.f.f. (24 in for children and adults of shorter stature) allows most wheelchair users to slide under the table apron. Specify a high table (in the range of 32 to 34 in a.f.f.) for a closer approach by a wheelchair user. A high table facilitates use of the shoulders and upper arms. If it is too high, however, it may put pressure on the back and cause eye strain.

For larger projects, plan an adjustable worktable. For a person in a wheelchair, one large table is more accessible than a grouping of smaller tables. For smaller projects, consider an adjustable coffee table. This works well for people who choose to spend some time on the floor out of their wheelchair. High coffee tables (21 to 24 in a.f.f.) do not pose a tripping hazard (4), but low tables are easier to reach from a seated position.

Avoid table legs or supports that extend into traffic areas. Keep coffee tables lightweight or on casters if they are to be pushed out of the way by people who use carts, strollers, luggage wheels, or mobility assistance devices. A nest of lightweight tables can be stacked out of the way when not in use.

Pedestal coffee tables cannot be used for support when sitting down or rising from the sofa, and drop leaves will not support much weight. Choose a well-constructed table with straight legs for support. Specify sleigh legs to easily move the table over textured surfaces.

Lamp tables and side tables are often moved; they should be lightweight and mobile. For detailed work from a standing position, keep the table slightly below elbow height. Heavy manual work requires a table about 10 in below elbow height (5).

In planning reachability, consider the shape of the table. With a 60 by 30 in table, only 68 percent of the surface can be easily reached (6). A person with reduced mobility will use even less of the surface. An L- or U-shaped surface can bring all items within reach for many people, although the corners may still be difficult.

A drop-leaf table can be closed to clear the space for access. To save space, use a drop-leaf table as a sofa table that can be extended for dining. Be sure the space between the legs is wide enough (30 in) for a wheelchair user. Extra seating stored under a sofa table can save space for wheel-chair passage.

Flip-top tables can be stacked against the wall to facilitate use of carts and mobility aids. Specify locking casters so that tables can be moved for storage. A wall-mounted table that folds flat against the wall can also help keep space clear for passage.

For serving food or clearing a table, specify a small cart. A toaster or microwave can also be moved on the cart from the kitchen to the dining room. Another handy item is a carpeted exercise table or bench at the seat height of the wheelchair to allow easy transfer. This elevated bench also works well for people who have trouble getting up from the floor after exercising.

Note: a.f.f. = above finished floor

References
1. Walter B. Kleeman, The Challenge of Interior Design (Boston: CBI Publishing, 1981), 118.
2. North Carolina State Building Code Council, North Carolina State Building Code, vol. 1 C (Raleigh: NCSBCC, 1989).
3. NCSBCC, 1989, 7.2(d).
4. Bettyann Boetticher Raschko, Housing Interiors for the Disabled and Elderly (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982), 105.
5. Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Standards, 1991.
6. Kleeman, Challenge, 121.

Excerpted from Beautiful Universal Design: A Visual Guide, Cynthia Leibrock and James Evan Terry, John Wiley & Sons, 1999; Used With Permission. © Cynthia Leibrock and James Evan Terry.