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March 12, 2010
Homes that welcome best
Add elements of universal design for accessibility, inclusion.
ELLEN FRANK
I can go to many public places now – buses, synagogues and all – so wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could visit my friends?
Recently, a very good friend of mine was selling her house and looking for a condo in Vancouver. It has been seven years since I’ve been able to get into her house. I’ve had multiple sclerosis for 21 years now, and steps have been a chore from the beginning, but seven years ago, they became too difficult, then the shift to the wheelchair three years ago made them impossible. My friend was committed to making it easy for me to visit her new home, so she added a level entry and a large bathroom to her “wish list.” She searched and found a place that met all her criteria except one. It is ground level but the front door has two steps, the door from parking garage has one step, and the door from the deck has one step up and then a large ledge to step over into living room.
The condo is quite lovely and it won’t be rocket science to fix it so I can go over for dinner. The plan is simple – she is going to buy a folding wheelchair ramp that she can put up when I am coming over, one that folds back down to the size of a suitcase. Luckily, the steps have a big open space in front so this will not be a problem. Then, a few grab bars in the bathroom, a raised toilet seat stored in her closet (by the ramp) and, once again, I am a dinner guest.
But fixing your house so you can invite me to dinner could be rather tricky, as I travel in a 300-pound motorized wheelchair. Many steps, narrow doorways and halls would make it impossible. However, many of your friends may have canes, walkers, bad knees and other compromised mobility. Things to think about include:
Rugs: Area rugs are tripping disasters but they are usually easy enough to roll up for company.
Bannister and railings: Stairways really do need a good, safe handrail. It makes it safer for everyone and, for many, no railing means it is impossible to manage.
Doorways: There isn’t much you can do about your doorways but if you know their width it’s easier to talk about with the folks you want to invite.
Turns: If the turn areas are kept clear, again, there is less of a tripping hazard.
Bathrooms: I personally think bars are a bathroom necessity. They aren’t obtrusive, don’t take up much room, and are helpful for anyone with balance problems, knee trouble or a backache.
Making your house more accessible is not that difficult – and it is a mitzvah. It will make you feel good, and be a great example to others.
Of course, it would make life ever so much easier if all new house construction were built with universal design in mind. I am borrowing here from a rather accurate Wikipedia entry: universal design refers to solutions that strive to produce buildings, products and environments that are usable and effective for everyone, not just people with disabilities. It emerged from the models of barrier-free or accessible design and assertive technology and recognizes the importance of how things look. As life expectancy rises and modern medicine increases the survival rate of those with significant injuries, illnesses and birth defects, there is growing interest in universal design. Imagine if a few generations from now things were built so everyone could use them.
But not to forget that things have changed, in 2003, I spent a government grant of $16,000 renovating my three-bedroom doublewide trailer in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. While I used a walker and a scooter, the space was accessibility perfect.
Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, I never envisioned myself using a wheelchair full time so, when that did transpire after an illness, I was still able to get around the house and the ensuite was wheelchair accessible. However, there was no way I could turn from the narrow hallway into the bathroom and get to the shower. It was time to move back to the Lower Mainland anyway, but it turned into an emergency rescue move.
It’s possible that some of you might want to make your housing more accessible for your own needs. If so, talk to an occupational therapist (OT) about how to best approach your needs. There are an incredible amount of aids, devices and gadgets that make the insurmountable doable, and lots of folks who know how to problem solve. Once you know what you need – stair lift, ramp, walker, grab bars, whatever – call one of the large medical supply stores. They are usually good at sending someone out to look at your space and help figure out the best solutions, and to begin talking about cost.
The best advice I ever got was when I was trying to sort out grab bars to get in and out of the bathtub and I needed to mark where I needed the bars, so the installer could do his work. The OT suggested that I get help climbing into the tub to mark the correct spot. There are standards for public places, but if you are renovating your own home, the right place for a grab bar is where you need it. That advice has served me very well over the years.
Whatever the reasons you may be considering making your house more accessible, know that it is possible. It just requires thought, planning and patience. And it feels good – currently, I can invite anybody to my house for dinner.
Ellen Frank is a writer, activist, mother, grandmother and retired travel agent. She has lived with multiple sclerosis since 1988 and knows well how hard it is to get around with limited mobility. She is the author of Sticks and Wheels: A Guide to Accessible Travel on the Lower Sunshine Coast (Ouzel Publishing, 2006) and features information on accessibility services on her website, sticksandwheels.net.
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