Accessibility in women's refuges

Each women's refuge displays information about accessibility. Only a very few refuges are fully or easily accessible. Staff in the refuges will attempt to find the appropriate help and assistance for you.

Do not hesitate to call the women's refuge of your choice on the phone to find out more precise information.

The women's refuges / safe houses have based their accessibility information on the following criteria:

Checklist

Restricted mobility

Basic requirement in all rooms/common areas:

  • Movement areas (before and after doors, ramps, lifts):
    150 x 150 cm (powered wheelchairs)
    120 x 120 cm (active wheelchairs)
  • Floorcoverings: flat, non-slip
  • Control elements (bells, buttons, doorknobs, etc.):
    Height: 85-105 cm

Eingang:

  • stepless
  • Threshold < 3 cm
  • Door width: > 90 cm, in interior > 80 cm
  • Easy-to-open door

Ramp:

  • Incline: max. 6%
    Lift instead of ramp from a height difference of 1 m
  • Length: if more than 6 m: intermediate platform
  • Width: 120 cm required, wheel deflectors on both sides for fall protection

Rooms, corridors:

  • Passageways at least 90 cm wide
  • Corridors up to 6 m without change of direction:
    At least 120 cm if there is space for turning before/after corridor and sufficient movement space in front of doors leading off
  • Corridors 6 to 15 m long:
    Minimum width: 150 cm

Toilet/bathroom:

  • Door opening outwards
  • Transfer area in front of WC 150 x 150 cm
  • Movement space alongside toilet bowl:
    > 70 cm deep, from front edge of bowl to rear wall
    > 90 cm wide on the access side and for helpers at least 30 cm wide on the opposite side
  • Load-bearing grab handles on both sides of the toilet
  • Emergency call facility:
    e.g. pull cord (within reach whether sitting or lying on the floor)

Kitchen:

  • Minimum depth of 120 cm in front of kitchen furniture, for wheelchair user 150 cm
  • Stove, work surface and sink ideally in corner arrangement
  • Space under stove, work surface and sink for wheelchair users to manoeuvre into
  • Height-adjustable work surfaces
  • Height-adjustable cabinets
  • Drawers and pull-outs instead of cupboards with doors
  • Appliances to operate (electric appliances, stove, etc.):
  • Height: 85-105 cm
  • Sockets and light switches integrated in panels below the work surface
  • Stove with hobs at same level and arranged adjacently
  • Width between table legs 80 cm
  • Table height min. 60 cm to allow manoeuvring underneath
  • Possibility of manoeuvring with corresponding width between the legs of the table

Stairs:

  • Handrail on both sides
  • Handrails that begin at least at the start of the first step and continue until the end of the last step, ideally 30 cm beyond

Lift:

Lift type 1 (up to 450 kg)

Cabin (W x D) 1000 x 1300 mm, clear door width 800 mm

For the following people:

  • Wheelchair user without companion
  • Wheelchair user with a manual wheelchair or EN 12184 class electrically powered wheelchair without companion
  • Persons with walking aids

Lift type 2 (up to 630 kg)

Cabin (W x D) 1100 x 1400 mm, clear door width 900 mm

For the following people:

  • Wheelchair user with companion
  • Wheelchair user with a manual wheelchair or EN 12184 class A or B electrically powered wheelchair without companion
  • Persons with walking aids
     

 

Impaired vision / blindness

Basic requirement in all rooms/common areas:

  • Sharp, strong contrasts, i.e. black/white (but very bright, pure white can dazzle)
    • Light/dark
    • Avoid red/green and red/black, as colour-blind people can't distinguish between them
  • Bright lighting, but non-dazzling
  • Avoid trip hazards and danger spots, mark them clearly or prevent access to them
  • Braille (tactile writing system) or raised lettering used
  • Avoid touch-screens, e.g. on kitchen appliances

Kitchen:

  • Brackets and clear organisation systems marked with tactile lettering
  • Electronic appliances with control elements which can be easily made out by touch
  • Appliances with acoustic signals used

Entrance/doors:

  • High-contrast
  • Doorframes/switches/control elements on bright walls surrounded by dark colour

Stairs:

  • Handrails that begin at least at the start of the first step and continue until the end of the last step, ideally 30 cm beyond
  • Barrier to prevent collision with rear of stairs at bottom, see above
  • Steps marked
    High-contrast strip on riser and step tread at least on the first and last step of each staircase

 

Impaired hearing / deafness

Two-sense principle applied, i.e. provide information for at least two senses (e.g. sight and hearing):

  • Use illuminated bells (telephone, doorbell, fire detector, alarm, etc.)
  • Use kitchen and other appliances with an illuminated signal

 

Assistance and care needs

  • In the case of assistance and care needs, admission of the accompanying person is possible.