Universal Xenon | Accessible Office Furniture
In the an office setting people with disabilities are part of the environment whether they are employees or customers. According to the ADA, spaces for customers must meet ADA design standards. Such as reception desks and meeting areas. While employee areas only need be accessible if a person with a disability is hired and a reasonable accommodation is requested. The majority of office furniture or systems furniture available can offer some accessible features but don’t go much beyond wheelchair height work surfaces and clear space below. Available now though is accessible office furniture specifically designed with universal design in mind. Universal Xenon is accessible systems furniture by Spanish office furnishings company Ofita.
The lobby is the area of first communication when entering many offices and needs to be accessible. Reception desks are required to have at least a section that is of wheelchair height so communication with a receptionist or representative is easy. Which most offices actually do a good job of complying with. Reception desks by Universal Xenon go a step further by adding a blind friendly feature. When people with blindness use a white cane, they do so in a sweeping motion. With this in mind, the Universal Xenon reception desk has metal posts that extend out. This allows a white cane to detect the reception desk sooner and better.
Customers visiting an office will many times meet with someone at their desk such as at a bank. In these situations the desk needs to be constructed so people on both sides feel comfortable. As can be seen above, Universal Xenon does a good job of this by having a desk that is at a comfortable height and is roll-under. The modesty panel underneath can also be adjusted to slide back and forth to accommodate as needed and gives the employee flexibility.
Another neat feature offered is an electrically adjustable work surface. Buttons along the edge of the desktop can adjust the height to three different settings. This feature would be very useful for an area that many different people would use. Also having a work area that can be changed as employees come and go.
One drawback of many electric wheelchairs is the control/joystick area at the end of the armrest. This part always seems to be just high enough to bump into a horizontal surface. My father used one for a short time and complained at how he couldn’t roll all the way up to the dining table or his desk. Universal Xenon solved this dilemma by simply adding a notch to the work surface. Amazing how being a few inches closer to your work can make a difference.
Even for office furniture that you may not think needs accessible features, Universal Xenon has found a way. This filing cabinet makes using one in a wheelchair an easier task. First the doors are made from multiple vertical slats and slide open to the sides. At the bottom is clear space to allow for the footrests of a wheelchair. Making for an approachable filing cabinet. A final small feature are the clips pictured below which can hold crutches or canes. Just a simple piece that can make difference. To view more pictures of Universal Xenon, visit this link to the Ofita website.
