By making a few modifications and changes in the house, a wheelchair user can be as independent as possible. Here are a few suggestions.
How to make your house wheelchair user friendly
Use wooden planks (in picture above) as portable ramps. Remember the ramp should have 1" rise for every 12" length (1 to 12 ratio).
Put handrails on both sides of stairs.
To take a wheelchair through a doorway, it should have at least 32" clear opening.
Reorganise the furniture to give more space for wheelchair manoeuvre.
Push furniture to the wall to create more space.
The bathroom:
Bathroom door can be made to open out by reversing the hinges.
Add non-slip surfaces.
Put a portable toilet frame on the western closet
Install grab bars, railings around wash basin or a portable toilet frame can be put on the toilet closet
a hand-held shower can be added
Get a bath bench/chair
Cupboards
Make them low height, install reachers
The Kitchen
In the kitchen add a low pull-out cutting board
Remove cabinet and install lower counter or table
Install roll out storage spaces for vessels
Prof Anita Ghai who values her independence, cooks while on a wheelchair
How to transform your home into being elder friendly?
(This article has been republished here in arrangement with Connect Special, a digital magazine, which provides solutions for challenges faced by people with disability.)
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