How to make your home wheelchair accessible

Renovating a home to accommodate the needs of someone in a wheelchair can be challenging. Undoubtedly, you’ll require the help of professional contractors. Here’s a brief look at the modifications you’ll need to make.

• Bathroom. You’ll need sufficient clearance space and a sink and toilet adjusted to the appropriate heights. A stand-alone shower or walk-in bathtub will also be required. In both cases, grab bars are a must.

• Doorways. Modifying your doorways by installing offset hinges or removing the door and trim may be sufficient. However, widening the doorways might be necessary. Handles may need to be replaced with ones that are easier to use.

• Kitchen. A truly wheelchair friendly kitchen will include modifications to the countertops, sinks, cabinets, appliances and possibly the overall layout.

• Flooring. The ideal floor in a wheelchair accessible

home is one that’s slip-resistant, easy to maintain, wears well and provides good traction. Laminate, vinyl, ceramic and low-pile or commercial carpeting are all good choices.

• Lighting.

Glare is often an issue for people who use a wheelchair, but this can frequently be resolved by altering the position or angle of lights. Another consideration is the location of light switches, which should be placed at a height of 92 centimetres.

Keep in mind that other modifications may be needed. Depending on the configuration of your home, you may require a chairlift, elevator, ramps and even structural changes to the house’s layout. For help remodelling your home, contact a local

specialist in home adaptation projects.