Home Retro-fits
Types of Home Retro-fits
- Ramps/Entry – Access to the home itself can be the biggest concern for a family with a child who uses a wheelchair or other mobility device.
- Bathrooms – The size and floor plan of bathrooms is often the greatest challenge within the home.
- Other rooms – Hallways, bedrooms, kitchens, garages, and other living spaces each bring their own set of challenges.
Ramps/Entry
Wheelchairs
Ramps
Bathrooms
Size
Sinks
Counter Space
Toilets
Bathing
Other Rooms
Bedrooms
Kitchens
Garages
Other Adaptations and Considerations
Doors
Rugs and Carpets
Indoor Mobility, Stairways, and Furniture Placement
Other Considerations
- Added lighting will help with safety in areas such as stairways.
- Push/pull lever faucets are helpful for children with limited hand strength.
- Side-by-side refrigerators are easier to reach for children in wheelchairs than vertically arranged ones.
- Entry and inner door lever-type door knobs are easier to use than regular doorknobs.
- Wide swing hinges allow use of the whole doorway.
- Reinforcement of walls will better support grab bars.
Costs
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Easter Seals/Century 21 Easy Access Housing
Easter Seals and the Century 21 System's Easy Access Housing for Easier Living Program provides homeowners with information
about accessible homes and how to find one; site includes helpful educational brochures, an expert panel with additional resources
and easy-to-implement tips for making an accessible home a reality.
Homemods.org
Dedicated to independent living for persons of all ages and abilities, this site provides many ideas and resources for home
modification, including funding programs; for both consumers and professionals.
The Home Wheelchair Ramp Project
Offers instructions and reading material for design and construction of wheelchair ramps, as well as specific information
about modular ramps and long-tread low-riser steps that can improve safety and home accessibility.