Add an ADA Stove to Your Accessible Kitchen
If you have mobility issues or a disability, a cooktop that
complies with standards in the Americans with Disabilities Act might provide a safer
way for you to prepare meals. ADA-compliant appliances have features that allow greater
accessibility.
An ADA stove
or cooktop will usually have controls in front or to the side of the burners,
so users don’t need to reach over hot burners to turn them on or off. You can
choose installation on a counter or island at a height that’s ideal for you.
Add a wall-mounted oven in a lower cabinet to limit the amount of bending and
reaching necessary to remove hot dishes. See our guide — Five Ideas for an Accessible Kitchen
— for more helpful tips.
Accessible cooktops are available in various sizes and can feature
a single burner or multiple burners of different sizes. Stove tops can be
electric or gas powered. They may even heat by induction, which can enhance
safety, as the heat transfers only to the induction cookware, as opposed to making the entire
cooktop hot. For help choosing a home that works for you, see our guide on that
subject, Tips for Buying an
Accessible Home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the three types of cooktops?
A: Cooktops can be electric, gas or induction. Electric cooktops
may feature a smooth, glass cooking surface or heated metal coil burners. Gas
cooktops use metal burner grates that sit above gas flame burners. Induction
cooktops feature a smooth, ceramic surface that uses electromagnetic energy to
heat induction-compatible cookware.
Q: What are ADA-compliant appliances?
A: ADA-compliant appliances meet Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements. For example, the act requires ADA appliances to be below 54
inches high. It also requires appliances to be operable with one hand using
less than 5 pounds of force and without twisting of the wrist or tight pinching
or grasping. Additionally, the legislation specifies that cooktop operation shouldn’t
require users to reach across burners.
