Making buildings accessible to people with disabilities

What you need to know:

  • Although it is not possible to make all parts  of the house accessible to a person with a disability, there are basic areas that can be worked on, and one of them is how to get in and out of the house. For a person who uses a wheelchair, you can have a ramp.
  • With a little tweaking, switches and sockets can give people with disabilities more independence which is vital to their comfort.
  • Replacing bathtubs with showers is one of the most common changes one can make to ease access for a person with a disability. “This is because  getting out of a wheelchair into a bathtub necessitates the presence of another when the disabled person is bathing.

According to the 2009 Census,  approximately 1.47 million Kenyans  live with some form of disability. Yet a look at most public buildings and homes are built in a way that does not take into consideration their specific needs.

According to Mr Joshua Ireri of Fusion Designs, a décor company that, among other things remodels houses to make them accessible and comfortable for people with disabilities, many such people suffer because few people know what can be done to improve the situation.

“There are things a disabled person can’t do for him/herself no matter how accessible the house and its units might be, but we try to make it as accessible as possible to them so that they can have more responsibilities as this restores their self-esteem and dignity,” he says. “For instance, when you make it possible for him/her to fetch drinking water from the kitchen sink or dispenser in the living room, you make them feel good, and that is important.”

Mr Ireri says although it is not possible to make all parts  of the house accessible to a person with a disability, there are basic areas that can be worked on, and one of them is how to get in and out of the house. For a person who uses a wheelchair, you can have a ramp.

Ramps

Though ramps are more critical in storeyed buildings, Mr Ireri says they can also be installed where the door is above the ground level. “We always recommend the smallest inclination possible as well as sufficient width to accommodate a person in a wheel chair.”

The American disabilities Act requires that all ramps installed in the country be no less than 36 inches (wide) to allow a person in a wheel chair to move safely.

Although Kenya has no specific law on this, Mr Ireri  notes, several  buildings in the do have ramps.

Once the ramps have been installed, it is important to have handrails and curbs to prevent falls or slipping on the ramps.

Doors and hallways

Inside the house, he adds, clear paths of movement are integral to providing a livable space. This is because a person using a wheelchair needs wide hallways while those who use walking canes and walkers need paths that are clear of any obstructions that might trip them.

“On the staircase, in  the case of a blind person, hand rails are necessary to add stability, and they should also extend a little beyond the staircase to ensure a smooth break of momentum,” Mr  Ireri says, adding that the edges  of the stairs should be rounded to avoid injuries to the legs in case one  trips.

Electrical switches and sockets

Mr Ireri, says that with a little tweaking, switches and sockets can give people with disabilities more independence which is vital to their comfort. “Power outlets can be placed just above the floor while the light switches can be put at the eye-level of a seated person for ease of reach,” he says.

Bathrooms

Replacing bathtubs with showers is one of the most common changes one can make to ease access for a person with a disability. “This is because  getting out of a wheelchair into a bathtub necessitates the presence of another when the disabled person is bathing. That is showers are preferred,” he says.

Where the  budget allows, he says, hand-held shower heads are preferable since they are more versatile.

Air conditioners

For people with communicable diseases and asthma, which he explains commonly afflict disabled people, air conditioners are vital because, apart from cleaning the air, they get rid of  dust, which makes life extremely uncomfortable for asthmatics. 

The purpose of doing all this is to make the life of a disabled person less painful, so anything that can be done, whether inside or outside the house, to achieve this is welcome.