You might look at this thread about a lovely bathroom designed by its user.

NancyInMich’s ada bathroom

Awesome thanks!

Consider pocket doors or barn doors instead of swinging. Also consider a wet room with the toilet and shower in the same area.

Thanks so much for the detailed information. Exactly the feedback I'm looking for! Definitely doing floating countertop. So helpful to have feedback from real world experience. Just started ski doing some adaptive ski instruction a few winters ago. Realized that even If I wanted to be able to host it would be really difficult in our current house due to stairs, bathrooms etc. so hopefully the bunkhouse will accommodate people with those challenges.

For it to be truly wheelchair accessible, you need a turning radius for the wheelchair that's larger than what you have shown.

The turning radius should be 60" in diameter.

I love this OT's youtube channel. She has a set of bathroom equipment videos. A lot of them are adaptable items, more so than designed items. But, I think it is important to remember that you will likely not be able to create an ideal situation for every single person. For some guests you may need to have an extra piece of equipment for them that you add in during their stay.

https://www.youtube.com/@EquipMeOT/playlists 

There also has to be room for the person’s assistive devices when they are not using them, such as when using the toilet and showering, and how to maneuver them.

So I'm not sure the best way to re-arrange the bathroom to accommodate that turning circle. Was hoping to keep the dimensions pretty close to this proposed drawing. Also I know I have to work our some clearance issues in the kitchen.

Some more understanding of the purpose of this bunkhouse might be helpful, but I think you need the services of a professional planner, because this does not look like it will accommodate the needs briefly described in your opening post.

This will be a space for family and friends to use when they come visit. And hopefully we will also be able to welcome persons that need wheel chairs. We are 10 minutes from a large ski area that accommodates adaptive skiing. But this wont be used full time for people in wheel chairs. Just thought since we had the opportunity to build this in, we would see if we could make it work.

What is the furniture in the "mudroom" hallway? Am I missing something with bunk bed and wheelchair user as a concept? Could a Murphy bed be a better option?

Try this: Tape out a bathroom design in your garage. Add cardboard boxes as furnishings or walls. Then borrow a wheelchair to try it out.

Hotel wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are often a good source of inspiration.

So just to try and be a little bit more clear this is not going to be something used for people in wheelchairs exclusively. So this will be a bunkhouse with full over full bunks.. but we are not locked 100% into that yet so if I find that there is just no way a bottom bunk would work for people in a wheelchair then I will reconsider probably the whole project. Just thought we were doing that if I could make accommodations, I would. In the thing in the hallway is it narrow bench so probably 18 inches off the wall. Should still allow room for a wheelchair to pass.

Sorry, using voice to text and there's no edit feature on these posts.

Apple pie order...Thanks and i will do a taped up version for sure. And totally agree on getting inspiration from accessible hotel rooms.

What you're suggesting is following the principles of universal design. However, the default is to accommodate the wheelchair-bound, not the able-bodied.

Hotels rooms are rarely wheelchair accessible . The fact is bunk beds are also rarely accessible for any one in wheel chair . You need some serious help to even beging to get this project off the ground so to speak. That space you show unless you move the boiler wi;; never be wheelchair accessible . The shower needs zero entry and large enough to turn a wheelchair all around So get some actual ADA compliant help for sure . This whole idea opens ,any cans of worrms starting with your home insurance premiums going throgh the roof . Most garages are not able to be converted to actual living space so I assume all of that has been addressed and does your neighborhood allow this type of use? Are those stairs going to the bunk area? Those pretty much eliminate any person in a wheelchair

I think this may already may not be accessible because of the pinch point at the entry of the kitchen.

The turning radius for the wheelchair can frequently overlap the area under the lavatory sink if it is wall mounted. The 5 ft radius is because of the footrests.

Some accessible showers have the toilet essentially in the shower, or at least no solid wall in between.

Thank you for all the feedback; I will definitely take all the comments into consideration. At this stage, we don't have a firm layout, just a preliminary design that I created myself. I absolutely plan on taping everything off to get dimensions that may work. I do have a few follow-up questions based on some of the comments.

Rebasheda - Would the bunk bed situation shown in the picture not work for someone in a wheelchair? Also the "furniture" in the mudroom entrance is a bench probably standard depth at 18" which would allow for 36" between the edge of the bench and the other wall. Would this not work?

Patricia Colwell - ADUs are allowed by our zoning, and we have proper insurance for rentals. I have a question regarding your comment about the shower needing to be zero-entry with space for a wheelchair to turn around. Is this requirement for every person in a wheelchair, or can there be a chair/bench for them to transfer to?

Thanks again. I'm grateful for the help in the very preliminary plan for this project.

This would actually be a full over full.

Contact a CAPS certified Kitchen and Bath Designer for assistance in creating a plan that works for those who need chairs, and for those who do not. The absolute first thing to jettison is the idea of a bunk anything. It's not comfortable even for the fully abled. Most adults would rather stay in a hotel than in any type of bunk. And you, as the host, will rather they do so as well the first time you try to change the bed sheets in any type of bunk arrangement.

I would recommend hiring a professional. Not only should the entire design make sense holistically, but also a pro should better help you to make consistent decisions on it's purpose once you can see different scenarios on paper. Like, if you have an ADA bathroom, the entire suite should accomodate ADA, or if you only have an ADA bathroom, it actually works in an efficient layout, or what purpose an 18' wide garage does if for guest cars where you can only shimmy to exit inside the garage, or the best place to store all your ski equipment, or details like giving proper clearance for an electrical panel. Right now it is very inconsistent and amateurish - the latter is not a put down, just the admitted facts. If you take the ski-school seriously, the ADU should as well.

Maybe start the creative train by looking up "ADU floor plans," you'll see to create an efficient space in an ADU footprint the Living/Kitchen/Dining must be grouped.

You mentioned it is for friends and family and potential wheelchair users. Do you have someone in mind? Because everyone’s needs are different. Someone who might use adaptive skiing might have a prosthetic device, visual limitations, or any variety of needs.

Minardi,

Thank you for your comments. While I appreciate your perspective on the bunks, I must respectfully disagree. I've stayed in multimillion-dollar properties with bunk rooms and found them very comfortable. For us, it's about creating an experience. Living in the Adirondacks, close to activities like rafting, skiing, hiking, and backcountry snowshoeing, we aim to maintain a "camp" feel. Therefore, we will likely stick with this theme. However, I do agree that stripping and making the beds can be cumbersome.

3onthetree,

Guests will not be parking in the garage; they will access it from a hard pad outside.

I also appreciate the feedback about the drawing being amateurish. It makes sense since I'm an amateur, which is why I'm seeking input on these drawings. This setup is primarily for overflow for friends and family, and I want to put some thought into making it accessible.

Thank you, everyone I think I have enough information to proceed.

My bathroom was designed for anyone to use. I am not yet in a wheelchair. Mine is the one mentioned in the first comment, above. I think that your problems can be addressed fairly easily. Your bathroom looks very much the same size as mine.

First, you need the toilet and the sink to be on the wall opposite the shower. Then, the shower floor, in a roll-in shower, becomes part of your 5 ft radius for a wheelchair to turn around. No wall in front of any part of the shower. You want to be able to scoot a chair in there, if needed. If you are building this as an addition, make sure that the room is sloped to the back wall of the shower and put in a trench drain against that wall. I personally think that the 32” shower is far too narrow for someone who is not very mobile. If any of your guests are large on top, they will be wrestling with the shower curtain. You need the ability to really move your arms around if you shower sitting on a seat, and at 32” wide, and not having the ability to turn, it will be an uncomfortable shower for anyone but the tiniest person. My shower is 37” deep, and it is comfortable. You can check with Transolid at Bath1.com if you are interested in seeing if this shower is still available. I did get the wall extension kit to take it to the ceiling, then other loose panels to cover the ceiling, and you do not need to get these. Just standard walls will be fine for guests. Do get at least one vertical grab bar at the entrance of the shower and at least one on the wider back wall. You will also need a hand-held shower spray in addition to any wall or ceiling shower head. It needs to be on a vertical bar, too, and this should be one a person can safely grab, not just a shower head holder. Controls for all need to be reachable from a bench or shower chair. I would not get an installed bench. Get one of the big plastic ones with a back on it, with adjustable legs. It can be put away for abled guests and brought out for anyone who wants to use it. I keep mine under my walnut counter, even though it sticks out a bit from the 16” deep countertop.

For the toilet, you want room between the sink and toilet for people to approach from their chairs to transfer. I would advise you to look into getting a fold-down handrail in case someone needs a handrail on both sides of the toilet. https://senior.com/products/healthcrafts-pt-rail-hinged-grab-bars?
This one is great because it allows a user to also push up from the lower rail without breaking your wrist on the upper rail. Then, put another on the wall beside and to the front of the toilet. Any handrails, both in the shower and in the room, must be installed on 2x6 supports that you place between studs before the walls go up. It also helps to have any towel bars be official handrails, just in case a semi-mobile person accidentally grabs one for balance.

A wall sink that sticks out from the wall far enough for ADA guidelines is great. Otherwise, consider a narrow counter like mine, with a sink that is in the center and sits out from the front of the countertop. It is wheelchair friendly and gives people a counter space. Mine is a bit too close to the end. Above, the mirror needs to tilt downward a bit for a sitting user to see themselves.

Your bathroom really is a lot like mine! See the space inside the boiler closet, next to the bathroom? Do you have at least 6 inches that are not in use? If yes, consider making a recessed wall shelf there. I had moved my whole bedroom wall out a good 8 inches, so my closet was very deep. I used the extra depth to get a small bathroom closet with doors there. Your guests would be happy with a simple set of shelves to place their toiletries on when not in use.