Making your home wheelchair-friendly

If the bathroom has a bath tub, which is preferable to a shower, then it is advisable to install a hand-held shower, which is easy to use whether one is standing or seated. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA

What you need to know:

  • Most kitchen counters  are about three feet high, which makes them difficult for a person in a wheelchair to access.
  • As for the handles, U-shaped pulls are preferable since they are easier to use compared to round ones, and, for extra storage areas, fix peg boards waist-high on the wall for hanging utensils and other frequently used items.

Few families ever think of  the needs of  a member with a physical disability when building a home. 

Consequently, people who have to use wheelchairs, for instance, have a difficult time getting around such a home.

That, however, need not be the case, according to Mr Benson Hinga, a freelance décor expert who says that, with a few additions, you can make life much easier for such a person. 

“Interior design for people with disabilities can be a challenge, but you don’t have to make your house look like a hospital with ramps and holding rails,” he says.  “Where is the space anyway?”

So, with just a few modifications, you can make your home comfortable and functional for a  person who uses a wheelchair.

The trick here, Mr Hinga says, is to plan everything in advance and customise the home by taking into consideration the needs of the particular individual.

“The result will still be tasteful and welcoming for the rest of the family members,” he says. Below, his ideas:

Bathroom:

Here, important additions to help a person who uses a wheelchair include grab bars, which are “a very necessary addition since you wouldn’t want a situation where a disabled person slips and falls, given that the floors of bathrooms or shower cubicles are often wet”. The best grab bars are made of metal and tend to be pricey, but they are also available in plastic, and also in a variety of Colours

If the bathroom has a bath tub, which is preferable to a shower, then it is advisable to install a hand-held shower, which is easy to use whether one is standing or seated. But for a more comfy experience, points Mr Hinga says, a roll-in shower is a good idea.

Kitchen:

Most kitchen counters  are about three feet high, which makes them difficult for a person in a wheelchair to access.

The solution is to have slightly lower counters. Further, pipes should be insulated to prevent leg burns, and avoid cabinets under the sink if you want to make it possible for the wheelchair to slide underneath the assembly easily.

In addition, since you need cabinets under the counters, it is important to make them easily  accessible. One way of doing this is having wheeled cabinets that can be moved around, and ensuring that such cabinets are built in such a way that they cannot tip over.

As for the handles, U-shaped pulls are preferable since they are easier to use compared to round ones, and, for extra storage areas, fix peg boards waist-high on the wall for hanging utensils and other frequently used items.

For ease of access to water, a long hose pipe can be attached to the tap.

Doors and Windows:

Doors are a major challenge because they tend to be narrow, necessitating a host of manoeuvres.

To go around this problem, simply install swing-away hinges as they allow the door to open completely away from the frame, giving you extra inches.

For the windows, go for casement types that are opened and closed using a crank that is easily reachable.