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Categories of Fat Access

Public Accommodations

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Hotels are accessible to fat people in varying degrees. Factors that influence accessibility include the availability of elevators, the distance between sleeping rooms and elevators, and the distance between meeting rooms and elevators. These issues may be mitigated with mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters. In hotel rooms and common areas, chairs and couches may or may not be suitable for fat guests. Toilet placement, wall-mounted toilets, and shower and tub openings may make hotels inaccessible to fat people. It is difficult for fat travelers to assess the accessibility of a hotel in the absence of photos, recommendations from other fat people, or visual inspection.

Accessibility issues often arise in Airbnb rentals, in part because facilities with five or fewer rooms that are the owner’s residence are not required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, chairs and beds may not be sturdy, showers may be small or otherwise inaccessible, steps may be present, and areas of the home may not be structurally sound. Parking accessibility may also be an issue. It is difficult for fat travelers to assess the accessibility of an Airbnb in the absence of photos, discussions with the owner, recommendations from other fat people, or visual inspection.

Outdoor seating is often inaccessible to fat people. Public benches with armrests or seat dividers – designed to be inaccessible to the unhoused for sleeping – are often inaccessible to fat people. Picnic tables with fixed bench seating can also be inaccessible, while wicker patio seating and white plastic folding chairs are notorious for their instability and breakage. While camping chairs designed with high weight capacities exist, those sold locally are typically fragile.

Fat people can encounter a number of barriers when attempting to access public restrooms. Even in bathroom stalls designed for disabled people, a variety of issues can prevent someone from sitting on the toilet: the toilet may be installed too close to the wall, a wall-mounted trash bin may be in the way, a toilet paper dispenser may be in the way, or grab bars may be in the way. Other accessibility issues include bathroom doors that open in toward the toilet, making it impossible to comfortably enter the stall and close the door, and wall-mounted toilets, which typically have a weight capacity of 350 pounds. The location of a restroom can also be a barrier. If there are stairs leading to the restroom, the absence of an elevator or accessibility ramp can make the restroom inaccessible.

CATEGORY LABELS

We refer to various categories of fat access based on the experience of how a person is impacted by anti-fat bias. Not all people are impacted by anti-fat bias equally. Fatter individuals experience more anti-fat bias and to represent this increase in experience we’re looking to find new category names to represent the levels of anti-fat bias different individuals receive.

LEVEL DEFINITION
Level 1 Inaccessibility
Level 2 Restricted Access
Level 3 Limited Access
Level 4 Basic Access
Level 5 Systemic Access

Elevators

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3 No elevator is available and stairs are a barrier
4, 5 No elevator is available, but stairs are not a barrier

Rest Rooms

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2 No standard bathroom stalls fit (non handicap)
3, 4 Some standard bathroom stalls fit
5 Virtually all standard bathroom stalls fit
LEVEL DEFINITION
1 Most/no public standard toilets are accessible
2, 3 Some public standard toilets are accessible
4, 5 Virtually all public standard toilets are accessible

Seating

CHAIRS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Chairs with arms are inaccessible
2
 Very few chairs with arms are accessible
3, 4 Some chairs with arms are accessible
5 Most or virtually all chairs with arms are accessible

STOOLS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 Tall chairs/stools are inaccessible/uncomfortable
3, 4
 Very few tall chairs/stools are accessible
5 Most or virtually all tall chairs/stools are accessible

OUTDOOR SEATING

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Public outdoor seating is inaccessible
2, 3
 Some public outdoor seating is inaccessible
4, 5
 Most public outdoor seating is accessible

SALON/BARBER SEATING

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 Hair styling and barber chairs are inaccessible
3, 4
 Some hair styling and barber chairs are accessible
5
 Virtually all hair styling and barber chairs are accessible

BOOTHS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 Booths with fixed tables/benches are inaccessible
3, 4
 Some booths with fixed tables/benches are accessible
5 Most or virtually all booths with fixed tables/benches are accessible

SCHOOL DESKS

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2, 3
 School desks with fixed attached desktop are inaccessible
4
 Some school desks with fixed attached desktop are accessible
5 Most or virtually all school desks with fixed attached desktop are accessible

THEATER SEATING

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 Theater seating is inaccessible (either due row spacing or actual seats)
3, 4
 Some theater seating is accessible
5 Virtually all theater seating is accessible

Beds

LEVEL DEFINITION
1
 Most beds are not structurally sound enough to hold substantial weight (frame) or comfortable (mattress), height is not accessible
2, 3
 Some beds are not accessible
4, 5 Most or virtually all beds are not accessible

Bars & Restaurants

LEVEL DEFINITION
1, 2
 In eating/drinking establishments paths/space between the tables are inaccessible
3, 4
 In some eating/drinking establishments paths/space between the tables are accessible
5 In most or virtually all eating/drinking establishments paths/space between the tables are accessible

Airbnb from the perspective of someone who experiences Restricted Access

“Throughout the year, my friends and I meet up for various ‘fatcations’ and we have to find an airbnb that will accommodate all of our needs. The first thing I consider when searching through different listings is the furniture. Does most of the seating appear to be fat friendly and safe based on the pictures? Do the bed frames look sturdy? How many bunk beds are there? So many airbnbs are filled with very cheap but ~aesthetic~ furniture that is usually very uncomfortable and very likely to break. The next thing I consider is bathroom accessibility– how big are the showers? Are the toilets situated in a confined space? Once I have confirmed that all of those aspects will accommodate our group’s needs, I also consider the availability and accessibility of parking and any stairs throughout the property. If I am uncertain of the reliability or accessibility of something, I will message the owners to ask for additional information. I have had to do this in several instances where the listing showed no photos of the showers and to inquire about the accessibility of pool stair entrances. Our needs for sturdy and reliable furniture and accessible bathrooms can rule out most available properties, which can make finding a suitable place more difficult than it should be.”

Airbnb from the perspective of someone who experiences Systemic Access

“When I look for an airbnb, I am primarily concerned with cost and location. If I am booking for a large group, I am additionally concerned with making sure there is adequate sleeping space for everyone. For my purposes, bunk beds, sleeper sofas, and air mattresses are all still viable options, making this requirement an easy benchmark. For a special occasion, I might be looking for a specific aesthetic to suit the event, such as a bachelorette party or family trip. I don’t have to worry about furniture being sturdy enough or showers having enough space. Finding suitable accommodations for myself and my friends or family can typically be done simply and affordably.”

Public restrooms from the perspective of someone who experiences Inaccessibility

“Public restrooms as a super fat person can be a challenge. The size of the room/stall, the placement of the door, the location of the toilet paper dispenser, and the placement of the toilet are all a big deal in considering accessibility. A one room, single person restroom with a door is often the best scenario, assuming the room is not too small. But even if the room is big, the toilet may be so close to the wall that I cannot sit on the toilet properly, as the space between the toilet and the wall is too small to accommodate my body. They place the toilet paper dispenser and/or trash can so close to the toilet there is not enough room for my body to access the toilet, and in some instances, I cannot reach the toilet paper. Sometimes there is an accessible hand rail along the wall, which can be helpful, but is often positioned in a way that makes it hard to sit on the toilet properly. If the restroom has multiple stalls, there may be no stalls large enough to accommodate a fat person if there is no wheelchair accessible stall, as many people who do not fit into standard stalls. If the door opens inwards, a fat person may be unable to close the door once inside. It can be difficult for a fat person to get up from a low-seated toilet, especially if there is no accessible hand rail. If there is a wall-mounted toilet, I have to be very careful sitting down and hope that my weight doesn’t break the toilet off of the wall. Due to all of these concerns, I generally try to avoid public restrooms if possible in order to avoid the hassle. When I do need to be away from home for an extended time, I find I have to plan my day around accessible bathrooms, which often means avoiding going to certain places and doing certain things.”

Public restrooms from the perspective of someone who experiences Systemic Access

“Public restrooms do not create many challenges for me. The size or width of the stall does not matter. Whether the stall doors swing in or out, my body can fit. The placement of the toilet in proximity to the wall is not something I have to consider because nearly all restrooms were made to accommodate bodies like mine. My body fits into the stall and onto the toilet easily, I don’t need to think about whether my weight will break a wall-mounted toilet off of the wall. My biggest concern is the cleanliness of the restroom.”

Seating from the perspective of someone who experiences Inaccessibility

“Accessible public seating is a source of great anxiety for me. Will chairs be sturdy enough? Will they be a comfortable height? Will they not have restricting arms and not be too squishy? Will the restaurant have only booths? Will this event have picnic tables with attached bench seating? Will stationary seating have enough space around it or between the seat and the table to accommodate my body? To lessen my anxiety, I always do research about the place I plan to go. I look at photos online from their website or review sites to see what type of seating they have and if it is accessible for me. If I find myself in a situation where I must attend an event where I had no choice in the location, and I have been unable to research the venue in advance, I try not to be embarrassed but to advocate for myself and ask for accommodation. If a location has mostly or only booths, I will ask if there is a chair I can pull up to the end of the table. For stadium or theater seating, I will call ahead and ask for accommodation when I am getting tickets. When I went to the Seattle Ballet, I was able to sit in a chair without arms in one of several open spaces that were wheelchair accessible areas. If I am heading somewhere I don’t know what to expect, I bring my trusty rollator walker, which has a seat, so I have my own accessible chair with me that I can use in nearly any situation.”

Seating from the perspective of someone who experiences Systemic Access

“Public seating is not something I ever need to consider. When I’m asked to think about seating, I may consider its design aesthetic or some variation in comfort, but the thought will not typically occur to me that the chair may not support my body. Seating doesn’t influence my decisions about attending any kind of event or taking care of tasks. When sitting, I do not have to exercise any caution or consider the speed or force with which I sit down. When buying seating for my home, I can prioritize cost, design, or anything I like, because I do not have to worry about accessibility.”