Ever wondered what it takes to make a house wheelchair accessible? The infographic below shows some really good guidelines that one can use in and around the house to make sure a person in a wheelchair gets to move around freely, has easy access to objects in different parts of the house, and can go around doing their day to day activities worry free.

 

Bedroom

• Phone/alert system near bed
• Overhang lift/manual trapeze to get in/out of bed

Bathroom

• Phone/alert system near toilet & shower
• Bath tub lift (13”-30” bottom)
• Commode lift
• Grab bars next to toilet
• Grab bars in tub & shower with 36” clearance

Exterior

• Vertical platform lift for higher outdoor staircases
• All-weather, outdoor stair lift
• Portable ramp (front entrance)

Kitchen

• Wheelchair-accessible countertop & cabinet height.
• Table: 27” floor-to-table height & 30” x 48” seat spacing
• Door (minimum 32” width)

Garage

• Garage entry/interior door ramp for safe, quick car access
• Wheelchair accessible floor area for easy car loading/unloading
• Entry door (minimum 32” width)

Basement

• A stair lift for easy basement access to washer, dryer, pantries, etc.

Accessibility Tips

1. Clear Pathways

Interior/exterior pathways should have accommodating widths for:

• Mobility scooters
• Rollators
• Power wheelchairs
• Standard wheelchairs

Standard Widths

• 36” for hallways
• 32” for doorways
• Minimum clearance for 180 degree turns: 36” in all directions

2. Lighting

• All rooms should be well-lit during evening, nighttime, and early morning.
• Lighting controls should be easy to access and use.

3. Security

• Phones & alert systems should be installed throughout the home for quick, easy access
• A reliable security or alarm system should be installed to protect you & your home

Sources:

http://www.wilmington.va.gov/services/hisa.asp
http://www.adaptiveaccess.com/home_changes.php
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/remodeling/how-to-make-your-home-handicap-accessible.htm
https://lifecenter.ric.org/index.php?tray=content&cid=2246
http://www.ada.gov/racheck.pdf


Infographic Source: KD Smart Chair