Envision a future in which every home was fully accessible to persons with disabilities. If this would happen, they would no longer be people with disabilities but would be capable of living close to work and take a vacation anywhere they chose. They could visit colleagues at any time whenever they wanted to.
Whether you are newly crippled or are interested in disability housing, here is a guide to locating suitable quarters and probably the closest thing to such an appealing future:
Factors That Determine Whether Housing Is Accessible:
When hunting for accessible housing, be on the lookout for the following factors:
- There is sufficient room in the garage for you to move from your vehicle to your wheelchair.
- There should be more storage space for wheelchairs and other equipment.
- Hallways must be at least 59 inches wide to accommodate ordinary wheelchairs.
- Turning circles inside the home must be 59 inches in diameter to clear the door opening.
- There must be sufficient free space on each side of a double bed, on one side of a single bed, and between a bed and any household unit.
- A bed with an adjustable height enables more straightforward access.
- To prevent getting on the side of a wheelchair, doors must swing beyond 90 degrees.
- Cooling systems should be in such a position that they do not obstruct turning areas.
- A ramp going up to the front entrance would significantly improve accessibility.
- While a bungalow-style house is preferable, as noted in our article on platform lift systems and their alternatives, a stairlift or even a lift would make multi-story homes accessible.
- There should be levelled thresholds between rooms to avoid bumps from impeding movement between them.
- Washing basins should have a shallow bowl with a surface front and be height adjustable.
- Surfaces should have rounded edges rather than sharp ones.
- Refrigerator and freezer units should be level and accessible from the side rather than the top.
- Carousel shelf units provide for easy access to kitchen corner cabinets.
- In an ideal society, kitchen worktops and sinks would be adjustable in height.
- To provide maximum ease of usage, taps should be of the single lever, mixing type.
- Showerheads should be mounted on a movable bar to allow for usage, whether seated or standing.
- A shower may have a wall-mounted shower bench with a backrest.
- The shower tray should be level with the floor to accommodate wheelchair users.
- The floor should have enough drainage and non-slip tiles or a slip-resistant coating.
- Low pile carpet eliminates friction problems.
- Avoid using throw rugs since they are prone to shifting.
The Condition Of Disability Housing:
Most houses are not in a condition as mentioned above. Housing developers construct a specific buyer persona, representing most individuals who are likely to purchase a home. They build cheap costing houses with walls too thin to sustain stair lifts these days. Additionally, there are no concerns about the size of the front door threshold, which may prevent a wheelchair from entering a house.
Taking A Break From It All
While obtaining accessible accommodation in the region where you need to work may be more difficult, you may have more freedom for vacation destinations. There are many holiday accommodation types that offer a wide variety of accommodations for people with disabilities.