Table Handicap Requirements

There are specific regulations in place that aim to make the world handicapped accessible, and some of these regulations apply specifically to tables. Tables in schools, parks and picnic areas, in restaurants and on outdoor patios should be wheelchair or handicap accessible in order to provide accommodations that are suitable for everyone.

Picnic Tables

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations indicate specific requirements for how many handicap tables are available, how these tables are dispersed, how many wheelchair sitting spaces are available, an also requirements for slope and surface for each table. Fifty percent of tables should be handicap accessible at a minimum. At a minimum, knee space should offer 27 inches height, 30 inches width and 19 inches depth, and toe clearance should extend five inches beyond the knee clearance. All picnic table clearance should have a minimum of 36 inches of ground or floor space surrounding the table and seats. Wheelchair accessible tables must have stable and firm surface and slope in order to comply with ADA recommendations.

Fixed and Built-In Seating

Fixed and built-in seating options, according to the ADA, should have ample knee clearances to accommodate people in wheelchairs. This should be a space of at least 27 inches in height, 30 inches in width and 19 inches in depth. The top of a wheelchair accessible table should be between 28 and 34 inches in height. If fixed or built-in seating is offered in an accessible public area, then at least five percent of seating must be wheelchair accessible, with a minimum of one seating area being wheelchair accessible and having the right height and knee clearance.

Classroom Accessibility

At least five percent of classroom tables, but no less than one, must be wheelchair accessible according to ADA requirements. They must be at least 28 to 34 inches above the ground, and offer at least 24 inches of knee clearance to accommodate students in wheelchairs. The ADA recommends adjustable tables to accommodate different users, including motorized, hand-crank and knob-adjustable varieties. All classrooms must have one wheelchair-accessible table at a minimum in order to comply with ADA guidelines.