Nash Hotel strives to provide inviting accommodations that are welcoming and accessible for all individuals, including persons with hearing, vision, or other impairment.
Designed by San Francisco architect August G. Headman, the Nash Hotel was built in 1924 and has maintained much of its original architecture. Located in the bustling life of Downtown Berkeley, the Nash Hotel is a long-standing landmark within the city.
However, due to the historic nature of the hotel and building, the design of the historic building is such that it is unfortunately not fully accessible to those requiring wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids as the layout of the building is limited by physical factors that do not allow for the full clearance necessary in certain areas as per 1991 ADA AG standards.
Although the lodging rooms at the hotel are located on the second and third floors of the building and are serviced by an elevator, the elevator is small and lacks sufficient turning radius for those in wheelchairs, but others who use canes or walkers may be able to use the elevator. Thus, guests may be required to walk two flights of stairs in case of emergency. All public hallways, ramps, and other routes have at least 36 inches of clearance throughout the hotel. The doors and entryways to private accommodations in the hotel facilities have a minimum width of 32 inches and allow for the clear passage of people with disabilities. The public shower rooms and bathrooms which are located in the hallways are quite small and may have insufficient clearance for a wheelchair to turn around - specifically in the form of either a 60" diameter circle or a "T" turn. The hotel does have bathrooms with grab bars installed around the toilet and grab bars installed with the public shower in each floor level of the public bathrooms. These areas are identified with non-glare, high contrast finished signs with pictograms, and raised characters with braille for those with visual impairments.
The fire alarm system at our hotel has been updated and in compliance with City of Berkeley Fire Department and the hotel has rooms that meet the 1991 ADA requirements for people with hearing and/or sight impairments. The fire alarm system both provides audio and visual notifications to alert guests of emergency.
Our staff is happy to assist with any questions surrounding the accessibility of the building and lodging rooms, or any special accommodations needed for persons with disabilities. If you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our hotel for your specific needs, please contact us immediately with any questions via telephone at (510) 841-1163, or via email at info@nashhotel.com and our staff will be happy to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Website Accessibility
Nash Hotel takes accessibility seriously, and we work hard to provide accommodations that are inclusive and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2010.
Many people with disabilities use assistive technology that enables them to use computers. Some assistive technology involves separate computer programs or devices, such as screen readers, text enlargement software, and computer programs that enable people to control the computer with their voice. Other assistive technology is built into computer operating systems. For example, basic accessibility features in computer operating systems enable some people with low vision to see computer displays by simply adjusting color schemes, contract settings, and font sizes. Operating systems enable people with limited manual dexterity to move the mouse pointer using key strokes instead of a standard mouse. Many other types of assistive technology are available and more are still being developed.
Poorly designed websites can create unnecessary barriers for people with disabilities, just as poorly designed buildings prevent some people with disabilities from entering. Access problems often occur because website designers mistakenly assume that everyone sees and accesses a webpage in the same way. This mistaken assumption can frustrate assistive technologies and their users. Accessible website design recognizes these differences and does not require people to see, hear, or use a standard mouse in order to access the information and services provided.
To learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act - specifically about the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design - Please visit:
