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DO•ABLERENEWABLEHOME

M A K I N G Y O U R H O M E F I T Y O U R N E E D S

THE

Published by

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCYReprinted with permission of AARP

Published by

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCYReprinted with permission of AARP

PREFACE

DO•ABLERENEWABLEHOMEMAKING YOUR HOME FIT YOUR NEEDS

Reprinted with permission of AARP

Written byJohn P. S. Salmen,AIA

Illustrated by Howard Mandel

Development of this book was made possible by the cooperation ofThe Hospitality Lodging and Travel Research Foundation

(The Research Foundation)an affiliate of

The American Hotel and Motel Association.

Copyright AARP 1991. Revised 2000.Revised and Reprinted in 2004 and 2005 by PHFA (Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency) with authority from AARP.

All rights reserved by AARP

THE

This book identifies andexplains the design concepts,products, and resources thatcan help make an existinghome more comfortable forits occupants who experiencephysical limitations.

While we have attemptedto be thorough in assemblingthe information presentedhere, it is not a comprehen-sive study of the subject.

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PREFACE

Page

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Physical Abilities of the Aging Body . . . . . 7

New Concepts of Accessibility . . . . . . . . . 10

Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Stairs and Ramps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Kitchens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Few experiences can be more devastating for an older person than the realiza-tion that, due to physical limitations, they must move from their home.This isespecially true here in America where homeownership is a cornerstone of theAmerican dream.

John Salmen has produced an important and timely book that will assist scoresof older persons in maintaining their independence in their own homes. TheDoAble, Renewable Home: Making Your Home Fit Your Needs is a book of solidand practical information on adapting home environments to individual needs.

My congratulations to the American Association of Retired Persons on the publi-cation of this indispensable guide for those experiencing physical limitations.

Bob DoleFormer United States Senator

FORWARD

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According to most geron-tologists, personal happinessin later life is the direct resultof an individual’s continuedphysical activity and involve-ment in everyday life. But forsome of us, diminishing physi-cal abilities can make thephysical activities of daily rou-tines difficult to manage.Climbing stairs, bathing, mealpreparation, or householdrepairs can become compli-cated as our bodies changewith age.This can cause us toretreat from the involvementthat is so important to ahealthy productive outlookon life.

This book is designed tohelp you overcome the prob-lems you might encounter inyour own home as you growolder, or in the home of some-one you care about. It pro-vides the information you’llneed to make your homemore livable and safer if youdevelop limitations in move-ment, strength, dexterity, eye-sight, or hearing.

The book has many ideas,examples, and resources thattell you how to make changesin your house, or apartment,

or how to manage a designeror contractor to do the work.The illustrations show youhow to make your own modi-fications (if you are handy), orthey can serve as a guide for adesigner or building contrac-tor.The U.S. Fair HousingAmendments Act (FHAA) of1988 includes an importantset of rules called the FHAA-AG (Accessibility Guidelines)which dictate how all newmultifamily housing of fouror more units must bedesigned and constructed tobe accessible. However, thelaw also gives a renter theright to make accessibilitymodifications to their homeor apartment as long as theyreturn the unit to its originalcondition when they leave.Nevertheless, if you rent yourhome, check with your land-lord before you undertake anymodifications. Because of thelarge market created by theaging of our society and thepublic awareness caused bypassage of the Americanswith Disabilities Act, the toolsand expertise for makinghome changes are now readi-ly available. More importantly,

many of the modifications areeasy and/or inexpensive.

For example, most of thedevices mentioned in thisbook (kickplates, hand levers,etc.) are available at localhardware stores.You canobtain other items from thesources listed in theResources chapter that beginson page 36. But before youstart any home modification,read through the entire bookto make sure you understandyour needs and options, butremember, the needs of theperson who lives there arethe real basis for any modifi-cations.Their needs will helpyou decide which modifica-tions are most necessary, use-ful, and cost-effective.

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INTRODUCTION

After our youth and activeadulthood, each of us experi-ences a gradual decline inphysical strength, flexibility,dexterity, and endurance.Avariety of conditions con-tribute to this natural agingprocess. Our concern is withthe physical losses that cancreate difficulties in dailyliving.

No two persons age thesame. Some will have visionand/or hearing losses whileothers might suffer fromdecreased physical abilities.Some of these conditions aredescribed below, along withsuggestions that can helpcompensate for physical andfunctional limitations.

Vision Loss Older people have a higherrate of blindness than anyother age group.Among those85 years and older, one of 20persons is legally blind.Changes in vision accelerateafter age 50 and increase inseverity after age 65. It canbecome more difficult forolder persons to see objectsclearly.The lens of the eyecan become opaque and yel-low, affecting its ability to dis-cern closely related colors,especially in the blue-greenend of the color spectrum.

It takes longer for an olderperson’s eyes to change focusfrom an object close at handto another farther away.And ittakes longer for them to focuswhen they move from light todark areas or vice versa.During these intervals, theymay not be able to see haz-ards such as steps or furni-ture.

Fortunately, visual impair-ments and blindness are notalways the severely handicap-ping conditions they are com-monly imagined to be.Visually-impaired people canadapt successfully to mostenvironmental circumstances,especially familiar spacessuch as their own homes.

If you or members of yourhousehold are visuallyimpaired:

• Clearly mark (with white orreflecting tape) hazardouschanges in floor levels.

• Position furniture awayfrom areas where you walkor move about most often.

• Adjust the illuminationthroughout your home. Usehigher wattage lightbulbswhere appropriate.Distribute the light evenlyand avoid using shiny sur-faces, to help minimizeglare.

• Become aware of yourhome’s color scheme.Yellow-oranges and reds aremore easily distinguishedby older adults.

• Avoid using closely relatedcolors together. Instead, usecontrasting colors betweenplaces like doorways andwalls, dishes and table-cloths, and the risers andflat surfaces of steps.

• Keep a consistent light levelin both bedrooms and hall-ways and remember to usenight lights.

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PHYSICAL ABILITIES OF THE AGING BODY

Hearing Loss Hearing loss is the most com-mon disability among olderpersons.As people age, theygenerally lose inner ear boneconductivity and/or nervesensitivity. Hearing ability,especially in the higher fre-quencies, declines gradually.Background noises interferewith the ability to hear a nor-mal conversation, and peoplewith hearing loss may be con-sidered inattentive and with-drawn from social participa-tion.

A profoundly deaf personoften cannot use telephonesand often must travel to relaymessages.Teletypewriters(TTYs) can greatly increasecommunication betweenhearing-impaired people, theirfamilies and friends.Thesemachines type out telephonemessages that can be pickedup by another similarmachine. People with less dra-matic hearing loss can useamplified handsets or have anextension bell installed ontheir telephone.

Appropriate emergencycommunication systems arecritical for deaf people.Audible warning signalsshould be accompanied by

visual warning systems orvibration devices.To ensureyour own comfort and safety:

• For easier communication, itis helpful to be in the qui-etest corner of a room or ina side room away fromgroup noises.

• Position yourself where youcan easily hear a conversa-tion.

• Carpet the floors and putcurtains in the windows, toreduce sharp noises anddistracting echoes.

• If necessary, purchase spe-cial electronic devices suchas hearing aids, vibratingalarm clocks, and an ampli-fied TV set or flashing lightsto announce informationand warnings.

• Contact your telephonecompany for amplifiedhandsets, signal devices,TTYs, and extension bells.Ask for their special needsdepartment.

Hand Limitations Arthritis is a common disabili-ty among older persons.Thismalady can cause painful

degeneration of the joints andseverely restrict mobility. Forpeople with arthritis or otherdexterity-limiting conditions,operating controls andswitches, gripping objectssuch as door knobs, and usingtools are the chief problems.

If arthritis affects anyone inyour household, you maywant to install large lever-typecontrols on faucets, doorlatches, and appliance knobs.You can easily modify anexisting knob control by fit-ting a rubber furniture leg tipover the control and insertinga small wooden dowelthrough it to create a leverarm.To determine whether ornot a control can be used bya person with a dexterityproblem, try the following“rule of thumb”:

If an able-bodied personcan operate the control withhis or her fist closed, thenalmost anyone, regardless ofhand disability, will be able tooperate the control.

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Range of Reach A person in a chair or wheel-chair is limited to a maximumside reach of 54˝ and a maxi-mum frontal reach of 48˝.Thelowest easy reach from a seat-ed position is approximately9˝ to the side and 12˝ to thefront.

A standing person has avery different range of reach.When you undertake anyhome changes, remember toconsider these differences.

Frailty, Disorientation, andDizziness Many older persons experi-ence occasional dizziness, buta chronic condition resultingin disorientation, constantdizziness, or frailty can causefamiliar environments tobecome hostile. If a memberof your household displaysany of these symptoms, try tomake your home as safe andeasily-perceived as possible.The following suggestionsmight prove helpful:

• Use furnishings that are sta-ble and without sharp cor-ners to minimize the effectsof a fall.

• Make the environment safeby removing scatter rugs,sharp objects, and clutterbut keep the layout offamiliar furniture and path-ways the same.

• You may also want to con-sider placing barriers atdangerous locations to pre-vent unstable or disorientedmembers of your house-

hold from inadvertentlyfalling down stairs or enter-ing unfamiliar rooms wherehazards are present.

Mobility Impairments Walking from one place toanother and going up anddown steps can be extremelydifficult for people with limit-ed mobility. For those withheart disorders, these activi-ties can be particularly haz-ardous.

You can overcome theseproblems by relocating bed-rooms or living spaces ontothe same level, by establishingconvenient storage areas, andby removing hazards on pathsbetween commonly usedrooms in your home.Try toconserve energy by climbingstairs only when necessaryand by storing frequentlyused household items wherethey can be retrieved with aminimum of bending, reach-ing, lifting, and carrying.

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People have come up withinnovative ideas and conceptsto meet the wide range offinancial, family, and physicalconditions in which the grow-ing population of older peo-ple find themselves. Reversemortgages and Accessory orEcho housing are methodsthat can help people whoown their homes to find the

capital to make renovationsto make the home moreaccessible. See the Resourcessection, page 36, for moreinformation.

Universal Design Universal or Life-Span Designis being applied to newhomes and appliances.Universal Designs are solu-tions that work for everyoneregardless of their age orphysical abilities. Full lengthmirrors can be used by chil-dren, people in wheelchairs,or standing adults. Lever han-dles on doors work for every-one.The future will find peo-ple demanding that buildingsand equipment beingdesigned so that “one size fitsall”. Some items, however,have very specialized require-ments that make them diffi-cult to fit all users. In thesecases the concept ofAdaptability is useful, provid-ing choice for the users.

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NEW CONCEPTS OF ACCESSIBILITY

Adaptability Adaptability is a conceptwhereby sinks, counters, andgrab bars are installed so thatthey can be readjusted to dif-ferent heights for differentpeople.This feature helpseveryone—not just thosewho are short or use wheel-chairs.Adjustable brackets onkitchen and bathroom coun-ters and sinks as well as con-tinuous 3/4˝ thick woodblocking in the walls sur-rounding a toilet or bathtuballow for adjustability in thefixtures or grab bars at eachlocation. Installing this type ofdetail into a new house caneliminate the need for costlyrenovation.What’s more,adaptable elements won’tchange the appearance of ahouse if they’re carefully con-structed.A home can easily bere-modified to a “standard”appearance should youdecide to sell the house andmove at a later date.

Accessibility During the past two decadesbuilding codes and, since1992, the Americans withDisabilities Act, have madepublic buildings accessible toour entire population.Thesebuilding codes, which aregenerally applicable only tostores, banks, and other pub-lic buildings, have generatednew ideas for achievingaccessibility in private homes.The most important of theseideas is the accessible routeof travel.

Accessible Routes A continuous corridor that is3´ wide, 6´8˝ high, free ofhazards and abrupt changesin level should connect allimportant areas of yourhome.This pathway shouldlead from the point whereyou enter the property,through the entrance to allimportant rooms. If such an“accessible route” is available,anyone, regardless of physicallimitations, will be able tomove easily around yourhome.

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Doors The freedom to move easilyaround our homes is some-thing most of us take forgranted. But it’s a freedomthat’s envied by those withlimited mobility and strength.Many of our homes weredesigned with agile, young,and strong people in mind.However, when older personsoccupy these houses, theymay not be able to opensome windows, climb steps,or go through doors, especial-ly if they have limitedstrength or hand dexterity, oruse a wheelchair or othermobility device.

Deciding which doors tomake accessible isn’t difficultwhen you think of making anaccessible route to the mainactivities you enjoy. In your

home, you should have easyaccess through at least oneentry door (preferably two forfire evacuation reasons) andall doors along the accessibleroutes between your bed-

room, kitchen, dining, bath-room, living or family room,and probably the laundryroom. Some doors may notneed to be accessible, espe-cially if they lead to seldom-used areas or rooms such asbasements, shallow closets, orguest bedrooms.

There are four major rea-sons why people have diffi-culty using doors:

Width The doorway opening is toonarrow to allow passage ofwheelchairs, walkers, or othermobility assisting devices.

Landing The floor space on either sideof the door is too small toallow a person who uses awheelchair or walker toapproach and open the door.

Hardware The latch or lock is locatedwhere it’s hard to reach andoperate or, just as often, thetype of latch, lock, or handleis difficult to operate bysomeone who has limitedhand dexterity.

Weight The door is too heavy or thedoor closer or spring pressureis too strong to open easily.

Each of these conditionshas several solutions:

Width Problems A standard wheelchair is24–27˝ wide.When you add11⁄2˝ on both sides of the chair to allow for finger andknuckle clearance, plus aninch or two to allow for inac-curate maneuvering and theusual oblique approach todoors, the clear openingwidth totals 32˝.That’s why,this width is used in mostbuilding codes.

A swinging door is com-monly available in a 3´ width,but 3´ doors are generallyused only as front doors on

DOORS

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most homes.The usual reasonfor providing 3´ doors is toallow for easy furniture move-ment. It’s especially difficultto find doors of this width onbathrooms (builders used tothink bathrooms would neverhave furniture movingthrough them).

Short of replacing theentire door and frame with awider doorway, there are sev-eral solutions to the narrowdoor problem.

• Swing Clear Hinges You can replace the existinghinges on your doors with“swing-clear hinges.” Theyenlarge the clear opening ofthe door by 11⁄2˝–13⁄4˝ (thethickness of the door itself).This additional clearance isoften enough to provide thenecessary minimum width fora wheelchair to pass throughthe doorway, though it maybe a tight squeeze. If theclearance is tight, you maywant to glue or screw a pieceof plastic laminate or sheet

metal on the door so wheel-chairs won’t mar the surfaceas they pass through thedoorway.

• Remove Door Stops You can often remove thesmall wooden door stopswhich create a stop for swing-ing doors and re-install them3´ above the floor.

This will add an additional3⁄4˝ to the clear opening widthof the doorway, which may beenough to allow a wheelchairto pass through.

• Remove Doors If you remove existing doorsyou can provide an additional11⁄2˝–2˝ of clear door open-ing. If you also remove thedoor’s stops as mentioned,you’ll gain an additional 3⁄4˝and a total of 21⁄4˝–2 3⁄4˝ willbe added to the clear widthof otherwise inaccessibledoors.

You may want to simplyremove the pins from thehinges and remove the doorfrom some doorways. In otherlocations, where aestheticsare a consideration, you canremove the hinges, doorstops, and other hardware, fillthe resulting holes with woodputty or spackle, and repaintor refinish the door frame.Before you remove hingesaltogether, make sure you’llnever want to reinstall thedoor in the doorway.Reinstallation may be fairlydifficult once your doorframes have been modified.

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Landings Small landings on either sideof doors can create problemsif you or others in your homeuse mobility devices. It is diffi-cult to pull a swinging dooropen if you, or your wheel-chair or walker already occu-py the landing area where thedoor must swing. Usually18˝–24˝ is needed beyond thestrike jamb on the pull side ofthe door to allow enoughroom for a wheelchair user toeasily open the door. 12˝ isneeded on the push side ifthere is a lock and closer onthe door.

Unfortunately, to enlarge alanding you may have to relo-

cate walls or partitions.Thismay be a difficult task, espe-cially in older homes wherewalls or partitions bear theweight of the house or whereelectrical or plumbing linesare located.

Two alternatives are avail-able.You can either removethe door from the doorwayand eliminate the need toopen or close it, or you caninstall an automatic dooropener. Either option willeliminate the need for a widedoor landing. For more infor-mation, refer to the sectionon door openers, page 42.

Hardware Hardware choices includelatches, locks, thresholds, kick-plates, vision panels, and dooropeners. Depending on yourneeds, all or some of theseoptions may be appropriatein your home.

Latches Latches are a means of keep-ing doors closed. If a latchisn’t necessary (i.e. springloaded or well-balanceddoors), you may prefer to

deactivate the latch. Anyonecan push open a door or pullit shut if there is no excessiveweight involved and the hard-ware for pulling the door iseasy to grasp.

When latches are required,you may want to install adevice that requires no finegripping or strong twistingability. Lever hardware is nowavailable in a wide variety oftypes, finishes, and qualitiesfrom most manufacturers.

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Most residential construc-tion uses cylindrical lock setsand latches which mayrequire more expensivereplacement levers. But leverarm add-on units are availablefrom several manufacturersfor adding a lever arm toexisting cylindrical latch sets.For information about theseproducts, refer to theResources chapter whichstarts on page 36.

Locks The security you desire foryour home may be more diffi-cult to achieve if you havehand dexterity impairments.Many locks require fine dex-terity and finger strength.Using the closed fist rule, youcan easily determine whetheryour locks are useable byolder persons in your house-hold who have arthritis.

Lever hardware is prefer-able to any kind of small twistknob. Push buttons may besatisfactory if they don’trequire fine dexterity torelease the lock.A push but-ton lock in a cylindrical leverlatch is perfect from an opera-tional point of view, but itdoesn’t generally provide thesecurity of a dead bolt mecha-nism.

Slide bolts, however, arefairly easy for anyone to oper-ate and provide nearly thesame security as dead bolts.

A lever arm welded orattached to an existing turnknob, may be an acceptableway to adapt your door locks.

Magnetic card readers,remote control locks, andcombination locks which arepush-button activated workwell for many people. If youhave key locks which retractdead bolts (mortised lock-sets), you may be able toattach a dowel or other leverarm to the key.This makes iteasy for people with limitedfinger strength to operate andretract the dead bolt.

Thresholds Abrupt changes in levelsgreater than 1⁄2˝ can createtripping hazards for peoplewith walking problems andbarriers for people who usewheelchairs.Thresholdsshould be ramped orremoved so they do not cre-ate any type of barrier.

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To remove a threshold, youmust either cut or pry up andpatch the flooring at woodenthresholds, or replace metalor masonry thresholds withothers that have a lower pro-file. In some cases, you maybe able to install a beveledramp that abuts the edge ofthe threshold and eliminatesthe wheeling and trippingbarrier.

Alternatively, you can fillthe area with mortar or plas-tic material that will level theapproach to the threshold.You should try to eliminatethe threshold completely,however, since even a gradualramp may create problems forsome residents or visitors inyour home.Analyze the abili-ties of the members of yourhousehold to determinewhat’s best for you and thosewho live with you.

Doormats Doormats, while helping tokeep your house clean, cancreate tripping hazards.Secure doormats to the floorsurface.You may need to fas-ten them in place with tacks,staples, or double-sided carpettape. In new construction,recess them to be flush withthe surface so they don’t cre-ate an edge profile that cancause someone to trip. Sincedoormats can also slip andslide around on the floor, rub-ber backed doormats or non-skid rubber under-mats mayreduce the problem.

Kickplates Where a doorway is especial-ly narrow or someone habitu-ally pushes the door openwith wheelchair foot rests,excessive wear can occur.Oversized kickplates canreduce this wear. Kickplates

should extend from the floorsurface up to a height of atleast 10˝ and preferably 16˝.You can fasten plastic lami-nate, metal, and even hard-wood kickplates to the doorto provide protection.Kickplates should be as thinas possible so they won’treduce the clear door widthopening.

Vision Panels If you have interior passagedoors that you normally leaveclosed, you may want toinstall vision panels in themso that slow-moving personswon’t be knocked over byothers coming through the

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door.These panels should belocated as shown in the illus-tration.

For security reasons, youmay want to provide one-wayvision panels and/or peep-holes on entrance doors.

This will allow you to visu-ally survey any visitor beforeyou open the doorway andexpose yourself to risk. Forpeople in wheelchairs, peep-holes should be locatedapproximately 36 –̋45˝ abovethe floor.

Automatic Operators If one or more of your doorsare difficult to open becausethey are excessively heavy orthe landings are small, youmay want to install automaticdoor openers.A simple sys-tem of pulleys and weights asshown in the illustration maybe a satisfactory solution fordoors where access is a prob-lem.

Electro-mechanical openersthat plug into an electricaloutlet and are operated froma remote button or sensor areeffective for many installa-tions. Pneumatic systems like

those at supermarkets requirecompressors and piping, andare generally much moreexpensive than the electro-mechanical systems men-tioned above.Automatic oper-ators are available for slidingor swinging doors. Refer tothe Resources chapter whichbegins on page 36 for thenames of manufacturers.

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Door Types If you plan to modify orreplace doors for betteraccessibility, remember thatseveral types of doors maybesuitable. Swinging doors arethe most common, but theyrequire landings on bothsides.

Sliding doors are often use-ful when space is limited, buttheir weight and lateral move-ment can cause problems forsome people.And some slid-ing doors require a floor trackthat can create a tripping orwheeling problem for somepeople.Threshold modifica-tion may be necessary.

Folding doors are anotheroption.They require lateralforce, but are generally lighterin weight than most otherdoors. However, the hardwarefor these types of doors some-times will not withstand con-stant use.

Pocket doors are comingback into style.Where there isonly an occasional need forprivacy they’re especiallyeffective.When they aren’tbeing used, they’re out of theway and out of sight (hiddenin a wall).

Pocket doors can also beinexpensively mounted onthe surface of an existingwall, but may be less attrac-tive than when hidden inwalls.

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StairsStairs that are easy to use arealso safe stairs. For example,handrails on stairways are animportant safety factor for allof us. But for many people,stairs are useless unless theyhave handrails.

Stairways are a necessaryevil, second only to bath-rooms in incidence of acci-dents.As we become older,stairways become more andmore difficult to use and theirdesign becomes critical.Theinformation in this sectionapplies to both interior andexterior stairs in your home.

Treads and Risers Tread and riser designs areextremely important.

Risers in excess of 6˝–7˝ aredifficult for many people toclimb and are dangerous trip-ping hazards.

Outside risers should havea maximum height of 4˝.Thetread should be wide enoughto allow your foot to restcompletely on the tread with-out extending over the edgeof the step.Where the totallength of a stairway is limited,you can extend tread widthby installing a projectingedge, or a nosing on the frontof the treads. However, unlessyou install them properly, nos-ings can create tripping haz-ards, especially for peoplewith leg paralysis.

Nosings should be beveled,either by the insertion of apiece of wood or metal thatwill allow toes to slide up andover or by carpeting to slantthe nosing projection.

Open risers (found onmany exterior wooden stairs)are a real hazard to most peo-ple because of their trippingpotential, but you can easilyclose them off with pieces ofwood.

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STAIRS AND RAMPS

Handrails You should install handrailson both sides of your stair-ways so that you or anyoneelse who has strength on onlyone side will have support asyou go up or come down. Ifyou have a wide stairway oryou can’t provide handrailson both sides, you may wantto install a single handrail inthe center of the stairway.This installation allows usersto keep the handrail on theirstrong side. Handrails shouldalso extend beyond the topand the bottom nosingsbecause users need their sup-port to get on and off the laststep.

Handrails should bedesigned so that users cangrip the rail between thumband fingers.This “grasp-ability”or opposition is essential tothe safety of users.

Handrails should be mount-ed approximately 11⁄2˝ awayfrom the wall to allow ade-quate grasping space forknuckles and fingers.Theyshould be mounted to sup-port up to 250 pounds at anypoint.You can secure ahandrail by screwing directlyinto the upright studs behind

the wall surface. Handrailsmade from wood should beproperly finished to avoidsplinters.

Stairway Lighting Many stairway accidents canbe prevented with lightingthat shines uniformly on thesteps and the top and bottomlandings.

Be certain, however, thatyour stairway lights don’t cre-ate glare or distract personswho use the stairs. Indirectlighting (lighting that doesnot shine directly on theobject being lighted), is thebest alternative for stairways.

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Ramps Many barrier-free design spe-cialists prescribe ramps wher-ever floor levels change.Ramps help people in wheel-chairs, but for others they cre-ate additional problems.Bifocal wearers sometimesmisjudge the correct distanceand slope of a ramp. Someusers slip if the surface is notproperly prepared. By follow-ing the advice listed below,you can make your rampssafer.

Slope Exterior ramps should have amaximum slope of 1˝ of risefor every 20˝ of length (1 to20 slope) to ensure that ice,snow, leaves, and other debriswon’t create a sliding or slip-ping hazard. If possible, theyshould be located where sun-shine will reach them in win-ter to help melt accumulatedsnow or ice.

Interior ramps should havea maximum slope of 1˝ to12˝ of length because manypeople in wheelchairs cannotpush themselves up a steeperincline, and a steeper slopecan cause a wheelchair to tipover backwards.

Ramps used in and outsidethe home are usually made oftreated wood.Their structuraldetails are shown below.

Outside, concrete or metalramps may be more suitablethan wood ramps. In some

cases, ramps with an extremeslope (1 to 8, for example)may be appropriate for per-sons in wheelchairs if theyhave strong upper torsos orpower wheelchairs. Beforeyou install ramps of any kind,determine the exact needs ofthe people who will usethem.

Landings Landings are necessary at thetop and bottom of ramps, andat intermediate levels where aramp changes direction orrises higher than 3´. Inter-mediate landings provide restareas and adequate maneu-vering space for turns. Land-ings should be at least 5´ longat all of these locations.

Handrails If you install ramps, makesure to provide handrails onboth sides, for the same rea-sons they are needed on stair-ways.

Ramp Surfaces Since an inclined surface cre-ates an increased slippinghazard, you should provide anon-slip surface on all ramps.For exterior wooden ramps,you can apply paint mixedwith sand. One pound of sili-ca sand added to a gallon ofpaint (and mixed thoroughly)is effective. Several paint man-ufacturers make nonskid deckpaints which provide thesame type of nonskid surface.

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You can also use rolledroofing material.When prop-erly tacked down, it providesa good non-slip surface forwalking or wheeling.

If your ramps are exposedto snow and ice, or have anextreme slope, you or anotherattendant will have to assistmembers of your householdor visitors who use wheel-chairs. Battens (small strips ofwood nailed to the surface)provide adequate footing forthis purpose.

Broom-finished concrete isan excellent surface for exte-rior concrete ramps.

Make sure the broomstrokes are perpendicular tothe slope of the ramp.

On interior ramps, mostsurfaces work adequately ifthey aren’t slippery.Try toavoid using carpeting, waxedlinoleum, or glossy paintedsurfaces.

Portable ramps Portable ramps are sometimesadequate, but are usuallyshort and can only facilitate asmall level change.They areavailable from many surgicalsupply houses, and from man-ufacturers listed in theResources chapter whichbegins on page 36.

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Sinks and LavatoriesThree elements are critical inlavatory design: the clearanceunderneath the sink (forthose who use wheelchairs),the height of the sink (forthose who may have difficultybending from the waist or forothers who are seated inchairs), and the faucet hard-ware (for those who havehand dexterity problems).

People in wheelchairs needapproximately 27˝ to 30˝ ofheight underneath the frontof the sink so they can get as

close as possible to the basin.Removing the doors or theentire cabinet below the sinkcan eliminate access prob-lems.A decorative curtainbelow the sink will allowaccess while providing a con-cealed undersink storage area.If you remove your sink cabi-net, cover or shield any sharpedges or hot water supplyand waste pipes (if the hotwater temperature is setabove 115° Fahrenheit).Tocover the pipes, use pipeinsulation (as illustrated

below) or build a box aroundthe pipes to protect you fromburns.

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BATHROOMS

Vanity Top Your sink should be locatedat a height where you can useit comfortably whether you’reseated in a wheelchair orstanding. Generally, a 30˝ highlavatory top provides easyaccess if you’re seated; 34˝ isthe maximum height allowedby barrier-free design stan-dards. If you are very tall andhave difficulty bending, raisethe top to 36˝ or even 40˝. Ifthere are others in yourhousehold who are short, acompromise height ofapproximately 30 –̋34˝should be acceptable toeveryone.

Faucets If you have limited hand dex-terity, adapt your faucets soyou can operate them easilywith a single hand. Singlelever faucets are best becausethey provide a visual indica-tion of water temperature,and don’t require fine handdexterity to operate.They alsoprovide a mixed water tem-perature from a single tap.You can replace existingknob-type hardware byremoving the handles andinstalling double levers orcross knobs (available at mosthardware stores) that fit thefaucet stems.When handlesare hard to turn, their wash-ers probably should bereplaced.

Toilets The optimal toilet seat heightvaries from one individual toanother. It’s easy for mostpeople to sit down or get upfrom an 18˝ high seat.However, this seat heightoften creates problems withbowel movement. Many olderpeople need to assume asquat position, with theirknees above the level of theirbuttocks.Toilets mounted at alow height would resolve thisproblem, but they createproblems for persons whohave difficulty getting up andsitting.A design which raisesthe feet slightly helps toresolve the problem.

Rehabilitation hospitalsnow teach people how totransfer themselves withoutassistance from wheelchair totoilet or tub as illustratedbelow.

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Stable support such as grabbars or tub edges is critical toallow individuals to safelycomplete this independenttransfer. If independent trans-fer isn’t possible, lifts areavailable to help people fromone place to another, but theyusually require assistancefrom another person.

Grab Bars Grab bars surrounding toiletsmust be located so they areconvenient and strong. Mostbuilding codes require thatthey be capable of withstand-ing a 250-pound load.To sup-port this weight, the barsshould be screwed directlyinto wall studs, or installedusing a blocking technique.Molly bolts, nails, or screwsinto sheetrock are not ade-quate.

There are three basic typesof grab bars: wall-mounted,sheltering arms, and pivoting.Consider the needs and capa-bilities of users in your homebefore you select a particulartype.

Pivoting grab bars can bemoved out of the way and yetbe close when they’re neededto provide support.Wall-mounted grab bars are themost stable, and shelteringarms provide the best sup-port for getting up and sittingdown on a toilet from a stand-ing position.

Grab bars designed forwheelchair users aren’talways satisfactory for peoplewho use crutches, canes, orwalkers to get around. Manyelderly people find getting upfrom or sitting down on a toi-let difficult because they’velost muscle strength in theirlegs and knees. For this rea-son, sheltering arm grab barsare superior to wall-mountedgrab bars.

The sheltering arm grab barsurrounds you, providing sup-port similar to the arm rest ofa standard chair. It allows you

to use your arm and leg mus-cles to lower yourself ontothe toilet and return to astanding position. Shelteringarms also provide better bal-ance support while you areseated on the toilet.

Make sure that these barsare firmly secured to the toi-let to prevent instability orshifting.Tightly attach thebolts to the toilet and checkthem every few weeks.Sheltering arm grab barswhich have legs that extendto the floor (see illustration)are more stable than barswhich rest only on the toiletbowl.

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You can make perfectlyuseable wooden or plasticgrab bars from common con-struction materials.

If you make rectangularwooden grab bars, allow clo-sure between the thumb andfingers of your hand.This pro-vides the best grip when youclose your hand around thebar.The optimum diameterfor grab bars is 11⁄4˝–11⁄2˝ foradults. For a child or personwith a very small hand, theideal diameter is 1˝–11⁄4˝.Thedistance between the walland the grab bar should be11⁄2˝. A wider space can bedangerous if you slip and yourelbow lodges between thewall and the bar.A narrower

space is not adequate for fin-gers and knuckles.

Tubs and Showers Transferring someone from awheelchair to the tub is oneof the most hazardous activi-ties you may ever have toattempt at home. Getting intothe tub is also hazardous forsemi-ambulatory persons.Toaccommodate these individ-uals, your tub area must becarefully designed to providemaximum safety for a mini-mum effort. Grab bars shouldbe securely mounted on thewalls or on the tub side toprovide support during thetransition.

Tub seats allow persons inwheelchairs or others whohave poor strength in theirlegs to sit in the tub and takea bath or shower without hav-ing to lower themselves tothe floor of the tub.A tub seatalso works well for those whotire easily and need to sitwhile bathing.

Several types of tub seatsare available. Refer to theResources chapter whichbegins on page 36 for manu-facturers.You can also installa built-in tub seat, which willbe more stable and safer thana removable seat. Be sure tocarefully design this seat fordrainage, so that water runsback into the tub and not outthe side when you bathe.

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Shower/Tub Controversy Since many people prefer abath to a shower, think aboutyour preference before decid-ing which is the most appro-priate unit to install. If youhave poor circulation in yourextremities, you may find thatsoaking in a warm tub at theend of the day is an excellentway to relax and get morecomfortable.

Shower and Tub Controlsand Accessories As with lavatory faucets, sin-gle lever shower and tub con-trols are the best.Antiscaldtemperature controls areavailable that prevent thewater temperature fromexceeding an establishedlimit. If the water temperaturein your house is above 115°Fahrenheit, you should con-sider installing this feature.

Shower curtains and doorsare the two primary means ofcontaining water withinshowers or tubs. But slidingdoors with tracks can presenta formidable barrier if you aretransferring from a wheel-chair to a tub seat.The lowertracks often have sharp edgeswhich can injure persons

who try to slide over them.For this reason, you shouldtry to provide a shower cur-tain in a tub to be used by aperson transferring from awheelchair.

Shower Units Accessibility standards call fortwo types of showers inaccessible facilities: roll-inshowers and transfer show-ers.

Roll-in showers provide agentle, easily crossed thresh-old that keeps water in theshower area.A person in awheelchair can easily rollfrom the shower area to therest of the bathroom. In mostcases, people who will rollinto the shower will use aspecial commode chair.Because its small wheels cancatch on ridges, thresholds,and cracks, it’s important tohave smooth thresholdsbetween the bathroom andthe shower.

Roll-in showers normallyrequire a larger space thanstandard showers, but theyshould be equipped with thesame hardware and controlsas standard showers.

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Transfer showers requirethat you transfer from yourwheelchair to a seat in theshower compartment.Thedimensions of a transfershower are critical.Whenyou’re seated in the cubicleyou should be able to easilyreach the surrounding grabbars and controls.

You can probably transformyour existing shower into atransfer shower by simplyinstalling a seat and theappropriate controls. Makesure that a clear floor area isavailable for a wheelchair toapproach the shower areaand allow an easy transfer tothe shower seat.

Hand-held shower headsare a necessity for many peo-ple, particularly those whoare seated in a shower or tub.These fixtures often comewith adjustable height rodsand/or fixed hooks to allowthe shower head to become afixed level unit. It’s imperative

to have at least 5´ of hoseattached to the shower headso that it can reach the end ofthe tub or shower. Many man-ufacturers provide specialadapters that replace theexisting shower head or tubspigot with a nipple forattaching the shower hose.

Safety Issues You’re more likely to have anaccident in your bathroomthan in any other room inyour home.Therefore, yourbathroom should be designedand equipped to help youavoid slipping or injury whenyou use the facility.

Floor Surfaces Non-skid adhesive strips,flowers, or dots are a low-costsolution to the problem ofslippery walking surfaces,both inside and outside of thebathing unit.

Replacing the existing floorsurface with a slip-resistantsurface, such as a non-skidceramic tile or indoor/out-door carpeting, is anothersolution that is more costly,but may be more aestheticallyacceptable.

Grab Bars Securely mounted grab barsor strong towel bars are nec-essary at places where a per-son may be off balance.They

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must be capable of support-ing at least 250 pounds offorce (more if anyone who isa frequent user of the facilityweighs more than 200pounds).To make sure theyare capable of supporting thisweight, ask the dealer or man-ufacturer, and screw the barsdirectly into the studs in thewalls or a secure form orblocking that has beenapplied to the studs. Screwsfastened into tile or sheetrockare not adequate anchoring.

Lighting Make sure you have adequatelighting in your bathroom soyou won’t trip, slip, or hurtyourself. It’s especially impor-tant to light the area aroundthe lavatory or sink for con-venience, personal grooming,and easy reading of medicinecontainers and directions. It’salso important that your lights

shine on the object beingviewed, rather than directlyinto your eyes. Direct lightsources create special prob-lems for people who wearglasses that refract light, caus-ing glare problems. Coverbulbs with some kind ofshade to create indirect, softillumination.

Electrical Shock If you use any electrical appli-ances in the bathroom (hairdryers, electric shavers, elec-tric hair curlers, etc.) their cir-cuits should be Ground FaultInterrupted (GFI).This type ofequipment virtually elimi-nates the possibility of electri-cal shock and is part of thebathroom building code inmany states. Hire a profession-al electrician to install GFIoutlets to make sure they areproperly grounded, and testthe circuits regularly to makesure that they are operational,using the button on theoutlet.

Storage Many older homes don’t haveadequate storage space formedicine, equipment, andlinens in or near the bath-room. If your space is limited,you may want to install medi-cine cabinets or shelves tohold these items. If you orothers in your home haveequipment ordered by yourdoctor or rehabilitation thera-pist to assist you with person-al hygiene, make sure theitems you use frequently arestored within easy reach.

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There are so many labor-saving kitchen devices on themarket today that even aseverely limited person canbe a great cook. Many of thetechniques you can use tomake food preparation easierare described below.

Work Triangle The flow of activity in effi-cient kitchens follows a trian-gle.The path starts at the foodpreparation area, which isgenerally around the sinkwhere foods from the refrig-erator or storage are cleaned

and washed.The next stage isthe mixing area, where foodsare mixed and processed.Thethird stage is stove, range,microwave, etc. where thefood is cooked.You should tryto arrange these stages in alinear or triangular pattern toconserve your energy and tofunction efficiently.

Refrigerators and Freezers Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers allow access to eacharea, at least in part, by every-one, regardless of their bend-ing or reaching capabilities.A

person who uses a wheel-chair can reach the lowerportion of this appliance.Aperson who has difficultybending over can use theupper areas.

However, some people dis-like side-by-side refrigeratorsbecause their freezer sectionsare narrow.A top freezer (themost common model avail-able) is easily used by a per-son who has bending difficul-ties.A bottom freezer is muchmore easily used by a shortperson or someone who usesa wheelchair.

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KITCHENS

Self-defrosting refrigerator-freezers, ice cube makers, andcold water spigots are espe-cially helpful to persons withlimited strength and dexterity.

Counters and WorkSurfaces If you’re kneading bread, youprobably require a countersurface at wrist height. Ifyou’re chopping vegetables,you probably prefer a highercounter height.Tall peopleprefer higher counters; shortpeople and people in wheel-chairs prefer lower counters.Adjustable countertops cansatisfy each of these prefer-ences.The only counter areawhich cannot be raised orlowered easily is the areadirectly above the dishwash-er. Instead of a work area, youcan use this counter as a tran-sition area for food coming toand from the refrigerator orsink.

Stand-alone kitchen tablesare useful if you need or pre-fer to sit when preparingfood.You can also attach a

lapboard to your wheelchairor place it on your knees.

Corner counters can be usedeffectively for stoves andsinks, providing the leg spaceyou’ll need if you’re seated oruse a wheelchair.This arrange-ment eliminates the problemof storage in an inaccessiblecorner.

Remember to allow at least18˝ of counter space next toany major appliances to holdcontainers or food that isgoing to be used or put away.

You can also create differ-ent counter heights byinstalling folding or pull-outsurfaces, like cutting boards,

at convenient heights, or byplacing a wooden board ontop of a convenient drawer.

A stool will allow you to sitat the counter without backstrain.Tall stools or adjustableheight chairs are also useful.They can be mounted withcasters to make gettingaround easier. If you’re unableto stand for long periods, asling belt can be outfitted onthe counter to help you whenyou feel fatigued.

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Persons in wheelchairshave great difficulty usingstandard counters because ofthe cabinets below.You canremove the base cabinets orjust the cabinet doors toresolve this problem.

If you have limited handdexterity, or can use only onehand, there are many ingen-ious devices that can helpyou prepare food. Spiked cut-ting boards, mixing bowlholders, and nonskid surfaces,are just a few of the devicesthat have been developed.The Resources chapter listsseveral publications which

describe this type of equip-ment in detail and where itcan be obtained.

Sinks If your sink is too deep andcauses you back strain whenyou lean over to reach thingsat the bottom, install a wood-en, wire, or plastic rack.Thiswill raise the working level toa height that’s more comfort-able for you.

You’ll also need an openarea below the sink if you usea wheelchair. Garbage dispos-als, which can obstruct this

area, should be located as farback as possible to providethe maximum amount ofclearance.You may want toinstall a separate sink along-side your standard sink andattach the garbage disposalunit to it so you’ll have ade-quate leg space underneaththe primary sink. If the supplytemperature to the hot waterexceeds 115° Fahrenheit,insulate the hot water supplyand the waste lines (refer topage 23).

Cook Top Ranges with staggered burn-ers allow persons who usewheelchairs to reach the backburners without burningthemselves.A mirror abovethe stove (similar to thoseused on cooking shows)allows a person in a wheel-chair to visually supervise theprogress of cooking food.

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Your range controls shouldbe located at the front or sideof the cooktop so you canoperate them without havingto reach over hot burners. Ifthere’s leg room underneaththe cooktop, insulate it so youwon’t accidentally burn your-self on the undersurface.Flush ceramic cook top units(which have a flat surface)allow persons who have littleupper torso strength to easilyslide pots and pans full offood and water from one areato another.

If your sink is located nearthe cooktop and has a hand-held hose/sprayer, you may beable to fill a pot or pan fromthe sink without having tomove the container off thestove.

Ovens Oven location is important.Astandard stove with the ovenbelow the cooktop can createproblems for people in wheel-chairs because they have tobend over and reach a longdistance to open the oven andpull out its contents.

Wall-mounted ovens withside opening doors are idealfor persons whose mobility islimited. However, convectionand microwave ovens are theonly appliances currentlymanufactured with side open-ing doors.A toaster oven isoften more accessible andconvenient for cooking orheating small items.

Controls As mentioned earlier, peoplewith hand dexterity limita-tions are often unable tooperate equipment controls.Arubber cane tip with a dowelthrough it, installed over anexisting appliance controlknob can help.

Any markings designatingtemperatures, settings, etc.should contrast with theirbackground, so that personswith poor eyesight can easilysee the level at which theappliance is set.

Controls should also haveaudible or tactile markings forcooks with limited eyesight.Warning lights or pilot lightsshould be visible so users willknow when the appliance ison or off.A wooden safetyhook can help ensure that aperson doesn’t burn himselfwhen using an oven.

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Controls for under-cabinetlights, exhaust fans, and wall-mounted electrical outletsshould be located on thefront edge of the counter.Thisallows a seated person to easi-ly operate these devices with-out having to stretch a longdistance.

The controls of wall-mount-ed ovens should be locatedno higher than 40˝ above thefloor so that persons inwheelchairs can reach themeasily.

Storage Where storage and the reachof the cook are limited, youshould analyze the goods andequipment that you want tostore.You may find out-of the-way areas that are perfect forlong-term or “deep” storage

items, such as the punch bowlthat’s used once a year, or the50-pound bag of lima beans.Other items such as tableware,spices and condiments, andeveryday dishes should beconveniently located. If youidentify things you need onlyoccasionally, you’ll be able toanticipate when you needsomeone to help you reachout-of-the-way storage.

If you are short or in awheelchair, kitchen storage

can be a problem. Base cabi-nets are the best storageareas, but when the spaceunder a counter must be clear

so a wheelchair can approachthe area, the storage is lost.

One alternative is rollingstorage carts that can bemoved out of the way whenaccess to the work surface isnecessary.These carts canalso help you work at one

position with utensils andequipment on either side, andsafely transport dishes andfood from the kitchen to theserving area.

In corner cabinets, lazysusans eliminate the need fora long reach back into aninaccessible area.

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Many innovative ideas areavailable to help you maxi-mize your storage space,including door racks forbrooms, hooks for pots andpans, and hangers for glass-ware and cups.

Hardware Replacing a knob with a loopcan mean the differencebetween dependence andindependence in the kitchen.Drawer suspension systemsthat make it possible to pullout a heavy drawer contain-ing pots and pans are essen-tial to some people.

Most of these types of hard-ware are relatively inexpen-sive, but indispensible for per-sons who use their kitchensfrequently.

Garbage and Cleaning Trash compactors can helpyou limit the number of tripsyou make to the garbage can.However, compactors occupyvaluable under-counter space,and make heavy loads thatmay weigh more than youcan easily carry.

Garbage disposals are anexcellent way to dispose ofsmelly trash. If you put allyour organic materials in thedisposal, you can reduce yourdaily trip to the garbage canto a single weekly trip.

However, as mentionedabove, garbage disposalsoccupy space under the sinkthat you may need if you’re ina wheelchair.

Tableware Appropriate tableware canease the process of eating andeliminate embarrassment ifyou have unsteady hands. Lips

on plates allow a person withthe use of only one hand topush food against the lip,onto the fork or spoon.

Glasses and stemware withcontours that fit the humanhand allow those with severearthritis to drink gracefullyagain.

If you have poor hand dex-terity, molded flatware thatconforms to your hands caneliminate your dependenceon others to cut your food.

Each of these items fostersgreater independence, whilereinforcing self-worth andpromoting a sense of identity.With products becomingavailable, the institutionallook is rapidly being replacedby fashionable styles. (Referto the Publications section onpage 38.)

Safety You should try to strike a bal-ance between safety and use-ability in your home, especial-ly if very old and frail personsor very young children arepresent. For example, manybarrier-free design specialistsrecommend front controls sopersons in wheelchairs won’thave to reach across heaterburners. However, you maynot want a stove with frontcontrols if your grandchildrenvisit frequently.

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Funding SuggestionsThere are many options avail-able to the homeowner ortenant who wants to make ahome more accessible. Mostof these take some time andlegwork to find and securethe financing, but they maywell be worth the effort.Following are some sugges-tions.

Financing Options Home equity loans are offeredby many banks.They allow ahomeowner to obtain lowinterest loans for renovationswith the home itself acting ascollateral on the loan.Remember, however, these areloans that must be paid backover time.

Large old homes can some-times be subdivided to pro-vide an “AccessoryApartment.”These are some-times called Echo Housing or‘granny flats’.The ownermoves from the main part ofthe house to an attached ordetached apartment and rentsout the main portion of thehouse to a family.Anotheralternative of this option canprovide even greater incometo the owners in the accesso-ry apartment by selling thehouse to the new family andusing the down payment tomake the accessibilityimprovements.The agreementneeds to be carefully writtento ensure long term security

for the old owner/new tenantof the accessory apartment.

State and Local Funding Many states and localities pro-vide special grants and loansto their citizens for homeremodeling. Contact yourlocal or state housing authori-ties to determine the availabil-ity of such programs in yourarea. State finance agencies,departments of public wel-fare, community developmentdepartments, and buildinginspection departments areother possible sources ofinformation. Private fundingmay be easier to locate thanpublic funding, but youshould thoroughly researchthe availability of money frompublic sources. A variety ofagencies or departments mayhave funding available, sodon’t hesitate to ask ques-tions that may lead you toother resources.

In most cases, the key toobtaining money is an effec-tive proposal.A two or threepage letter with supportingdocuments is the strongestapproach to many of theseagencies and associations,although some may have theirown application forms.Yourletter should include at leastthe following:

1. The reason for modification.

2. The solution you’re propos-ing.

3. The total cost of the projectwith an analysis of appropri-ate separate elements.Anitemized estimate by a quali-fied individual is often help-ful.

4. The amount you are able topay.

5. A conclusion requestingfunds and thanking the organ-ization for its consideration.

Remember that short,succinctproposals are the best form ofcommunication.

Public Sources forFunding Assistance• The Rural Development

office provides 502 or 504loans in rural areas. Lowincome homeowners overage 62 also qualify forgrants under 504 to buildand repair their homes.Contact your local UnitedStates Department ofAgriculture/Rural Develop-ment county office.

• The U.S. Department ofHousing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD) pro-vides direct loans to certainneighborhood developmentand employment agencies.Contact your city govern-ment or HUD field office todetermine if such a pro-gram is available in yourarea. HUD also distributesfunds under theCommunity Development

36

RESOURCES

Block Grant (CDBG)Program to towns and citiesfor neighborhood improve-ment.The local governmentdecides how to use thismoney, but some jurisdic-tions have elected to usepart of their grants to helpresidents fix their homes.Contact your local govern-ment to determine if such aprogram exists in your area.

• The Veterans Administration(VA) provides low-interestloans to veterans to modifytheir homes. Contact theVeterans Administration tohelp you secure funding.

• The Internal RevenueService (IRS) allows you todeduct equipment, furnish-ings, and permanentchanges for access to yourhome as medical expenseson your IRS form.Thesedeductions must be item-ized on Schedule A withother medical expenses. Ifyou’re audited, you’ll need astatement from your realtoror contractor.The IRSTreasury Publication 907can explain how to takethese deductions.

Private Organizations Most private organizationsaren’t able to provide largesums of money to individuals,so you may have to search forfunding from several differentorganizations for differentsegments of your entire proj-ect. Don’t be discouraged ifyour first few inquiries aren’tproductive. Send them thesame short letter or proposalmentioned above.The follow-ing foundations and agenciesmay be able to provide thefunds you need.

• American Cancer Society

• Muscular DystrophyAssociation

• Multiple Sclerosis Society

• Cerebral Palsy Society ofyour metropolitan area

• Your State Governor’sCommittee or Council forthe Handicapped

• Chamber of Commerce

If you or a member of yourfamily belong to one of thefollowing organizations, askthem for assistance:

• Rotary Club

• Lions Club

• B’nai B’rith

• Shriners Club

• Knights of Columbus

• Sertoma

• 4H Club

• Masons

• Church, synagogue, or otherreligious organization

Many communities haveinstituted home weatheriza-tion programs which makeaccessibility modifications, aswell as energy efficiencymodifications, to homes.Contact your local branch ofthe organizations listed belowfor information about suchprograms:

• Energy Conservation Corps

• Ebenezer Society

• Little Brothers

• YMCA

• Boy Scouts of America

• Other voluntary work pro-grams

• Local area agency orcouncil on aging

Rebuilding Together, for-merly known as Christmas inApril, is a program gainingpopularity around the coun-try.Volunteers make substan-tial improvements to a select-ed number of homes belong-ing to low-income, elderly,and disabled homeowners ona particular Saturday in thespring of each year, designat-ed as the “RebuildingTogether Day.” Both labor andmaterials are donated. Local

37

churches, social service agen-cies, and individuals can nom-inate potential houses ofneedy people to the localRebuilding Together chapter.Contact Rebuilding Togetherto see if there is a groupactive in your community, orconsider starting an affiliate.

The Foundation Center,with offices in San Francisco,New York City, Cleveland,Atlanta, and Washington, DC,can provide informationabout private funding sourcesaround the country.Visit theirWeb site atwww.foundationcenter.orgfor more information.

Practical ConsiderationsWhen you hire and workwith building contractors,remember the followingadvice:• Always get at least three

bids. Make a list of the itemsyou want to modify beforeyou talk with the contrac-tors so that each providesyou with a bid for compara-ble work.All bids should besubmitted to you in writing,and should indicate theamount of time (or startingand completion dates)required to accomplish thejob.

• Ask your contractor todetermine in advance howlong it will take to completethe work. Make sure you

hold them responsible forfinishing the project onschedule. On projects over$2,000 it’s common to pro-vide some money up front.If you arrange to make pay-ments throughout the peri-od of construction, follow a30 percent, 30 percent, 40percent schedule (pay 30percent up front, 30 percentafter substantial completion,and 40 percent upon totalcompletion of the project).Keep some funds in reserveto ensure that your contrac-tor will complete the proj-ect to your satisfaction.Approximately one-third ofyour total payment is anadequate reserve to ensurethat the contractor willcomplete the project.

• Ask each contractor whobids for at least three refer-ences.After you’ve selectedthe best bid, talk to at leasttwo of the references tomake sure that the contrac-tor was punctual, that hiscost forecast was realistic,that he was able to workwell with the client and thathis assistants were capablecraftsmen.

DESIGN PUBLICATIONS

Accessible HousingDesign File by Barrier FreeEnvironments, Inc.

UFAS Retrofit Guide:AccessibilityModifications forExisting Buildings byBarrier Free Environments,Inc.

Barrier-free Environmentsby Michael J. Bednar

Available from:John Wiley & Sons1 Wiley DriveSomerset, NJ 08875-12721.800.225.5945www.wiley.com

American NationalStandard for Accessibleand Usable Buildingsand Facilities byInternational Code Council

The basis for all accessibledesign in the United States; a66-page technical manualwith illustrations.Available from:

International Code Council4051 Flossmoor RoadCountry Club IL 604781.800.786.4452www.iccsafe.org

Accessible Stock HousePlans Catalog by Centerfor Universal Design

Affordable and UniversalHomes by Center forUniversal Design

Catalogs of floor plans andperspectives for accessible

38

homes including accessiblefeatures and ordering informa-tion for the plan sets.Available from:

Center for Universal DesignNorth Carolina StateUniversityBox 8613Raleigh NC 27695-86131.800.647.6777www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/

Accessible Cabinetryand/or AccessiblePlumbing

Technical reports publishedby the IDEA Center,University at Buffalo.Theydescribe state-of-the-art acces-sible fixtures, accessoriesand/or cabinetry. For use bypeople with disabilities andincludes case studies of avail-able products.Available from:


A ComprehensiveApproach to RetrofittingHomes for a Lifetime byLenny Rickman

Available from:NAHB Resource Center400 Prince George’sBoulevardUpper Marlboro MD 207741.800.638.8556www.nahbrc.org

A Consumer’s Guide toHome Adaptation

A handy checklist for evaluat-ing a disabled person’s abili-ties and his/her home’s limita-tions to determine whataccessibility modificationswill be most effective.Available from:

Adaptive EnvironmentCenter, Inc.374 Congress Street,Suite 301Boston MA 02210617.695.1225www.adaptiveenviron-ments.org

Simple Solutions: HomeAutomation Technologyfor Easy, Safe, andAccessible Living

Twelve relatively inexpensivehome technology solutionsthat can benefit everyonefrom busy professionals, newmoms, older adults and per-sons with disabilities.Information on equipment—what it can do, how it oper-ates and installation require-ments.Available from:


Universal DesignNewsletter by UniversalDesigners & Consultants,Inc., quarterly newsletter.

Available by subscriptionfrom:

Universal Designers andConsultants, Inc.6 Grant AvenueTakoma Park MD 20912301.270.2470www.universaldesign.com

ICAN at ArkansasRehabilitation Services.

Created through the AssistiveTechnology Act of 1998,Website has a resource library of2,000 books, pamphlets, audiotapes, video cassettes andpapers on assistive technolo-gy and disability-relatedissues.

ICANArkansas RehabilitationServices2201 Brookwood Drive,Suite 117Little Rock AR 722011.800.828.2799www.arkansas-ican.org

TECHNICAL PACKAGES

The following technical pack-ages are available from:


39

Grab Bars GBTP.2.93A technical assistance bookletthat contains descriptions ofdifferent types of grab barsand details on reinforcingwalls for grab bar installation.

Universal Design forDecks, Patios, Porchesand Balconies DPTP.2.94

Information for making out-door living areas accessible toall is provided through textand illustrations.

FINANCE PUBLICATIONS

The following publicationsare available from:


Financing Home Access-ibility Modifications

A reference source that iden-tifies potential sources offinancial assistance for rentersand homeowners and offersguidance and direction forlocating assistance at the stateand local level. A resource listof organizations and publica-tions is also included.

Financing AccessibilityModifications, Fact sheet#8. FAFS.2.92.

Home Financing for OlderPeople, Fact Sheet #5.

Benefits of Accessory UnitHousing for ElderlyPersons and Personswith Disabilities, FactSheet #7.

ORGANIZATIONS that canassist you in the DESIGNof an ACCESSIBLE HOME

Adaptive EnvironmentCenter, Inc.

374 Congress Street,Suite 301Boston MA 02210617.695.1225www.adaptiveenviron-ments.org

Access Unlimited702 West Park AvenueEdgewater FL 321321.800.575.8270www.accessunlimited.net

American Society ofInterior Designers

1.800.610.2743www.asid.org

Center for UniversalDesign

North Carolina StateUniversityBox 8613Raleigh NC 27695-86131.800.647.6777www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/

Universal Designers andConsultants, Inc.

6 Grant AvenueTakoma Park MD 20912301.270.2470www.universaldesign.com

CATALOGS / DIRECTORIESof Accessibility andPersonal AssistanceEquipment

Directory of AccessibleBuilding Products

NAHB Resource Center400 Prince George’sBoulevardUpper Marlboro MD 207741.800.638.8556www.nahbrc.org

MAXIAIDS CatalogMaxiP O Box 3209Farmingdale NY 117351.800.522.6294www.maxiaids.com

Accent on InformationAccent on Information1660 L Street NW Suite 700Washington DC 200361.800.872.5827www.ucpa.org

40

ORGANIZATIONS,ASSOCIATIONS, andRETAIL STORES that canassist you in findingACCESSIBLE PRODUCTS

ABLEDATANational RehabilitationCenter8630 Fenton Street,Suite 930Silver Spring MD 209101.800.227.0216www.abledata.com

Yes I Can, Inc. (Retail Store)35-325 Date Palm DriveThe Esplanade, Suite 131Cathedral City CA 922341.800.366.4226also at:79-440 Corporate CenterDrive, Suite 109La Quinta CA 92253760.771.9900www.yesican.com

NAHB Resource Center400 Prince George’sBoulevardUpper Marlboro MD 207741.800.638.8556www.nahbrc.org

GRAB BAR MANUFACTURERS

American Specialties, Inc.441 Saw Mill River RoadYonkers NY 10701914.476.9000www.americanspecialties.com

C.D. Sparling498 Farmer StreetPlymouth MI 48170734.455.3121www.cdsparling.com

Elcoma Metal Fabricating521 Lawrence Road NECanton OH 447041.800.352.6625www.elcoma.com

Seachrome Corporation344 West 157th StreetGardena CA 902481.800.955.2476www.seachrome.com

BATHTUB SEATMANUFACTURER

Graham-Field HealthProducts

2935 Northeast ParkwayAtlanta GA 303601.800.645.5272www.grahamfield.com

SHOWER SEATMANUACTURERS

Seachrome Corporation344 West 157th StreetGardena CA 902481.800.955.2476www.seachrome.com

Kohler Co.444 Highland DriveKohler WI 530441.800.456.4537www.kohler.com

PORTABLE, MODULAR, ORPERMANENT RAMPMANUFACTURERS

AlumiRamp, Inc.855 E Chicago RoadQuincy MI 490821.800.800.3864www.alumiramp.com

Handi-Ramp Inc.510 North AvenueLibertyville IL 600481.800.876.7267www.handiramp.com

The Braun Corporation1014 South MonticelloWinamac IN 469961.800.843.5438www.braunlift.com

41

DOOR LEVER HARDWAREMANUFACTURERS

Extend, Inc.437 Clearview CourtMoorhead MN 565601.800.425.3837

Adams Rite Quadrastat260 Santa Fe StreetPomona CA 917671.800.872.3267www.adamsrite.com

Best Access System6161 E 75th StreetIndianapolis IN 462501.800.711.6814www.bestaccess.com

Also available is a ConsumerProduct Guide on DoorHardware:

A Guide for Buyers,Manufacturers, andDesigners


AUTOMATIC DOOROPERATORMANUFACTURERS

Besam, Inc.2140 Priest Bridge CourtCrofton MD 211141.866.237.2687www.besam.com

Overhead Door Company1800 VantageCarrollton TX 75006972.416.7100www.dallasdoors.com

Power Access CorporationP O Box 1050New Hartford CT 060571.800.344.0088www.power-access.com

Stanley Access Technology65 Scott Swamp RoadFarmington CT 060321.888.366.7444www.stanleyworks.com

42

43

Accidents 28

Acoustics 8

Adaptability 11

Arthritis 8

Automatic door openers 17

Barriers 9

Bathrooms 23

Bathtubs 26

Bifocal wearers 7

Blocking 11

Broom-finished concrete 22

Cabinets 34

Carpeting 8

Chair height 9

Clear opening 11, 12

Combination locks 14

Concrete ramps 22

Cook top 33

Counters 31

Cutting boards 31

Cylindrical door hardware 14

Dead bolt locks 15

Dishwasher 31

Disorientation 9

Doors 12, 18

Door knobs 14

Door openers

(see automatic door openers)

Doormats 16

Electrical outlets 29

Exhaust fans 34

Faucets 24

Floor surfaces 28

Folding doors 18

Freezers 30

Funding suggestions 36

Garbage 35

Grab bars 25,26,28

Ground Fault Circuits 29

Hand-held shower heads 28

Hand limitations 8

Handrails 20, 21

Hardware 12, 14

Hearing loss 8

Hinges 13

Independent transfer 24

Ice 21

Kickplates 16

Kitchen 30

Knob-type hardware 8,14

Landings 14, 21

Lap boards 31

Latches 14

Lavatory 23

Lazy susans 34

Levers 8,14,24

Lifts 35

Lighting 29

Locks 15

Medicine cabinets 29

Mixing bowl holders 32

Mobility Impairments 9

Money 36, 6

Mortised door hardware 14

Non-skid surfaces 21

Ovens 33

Paint with added sand 21

Pocket doors 18

Portable ramps 22

Ramps 21

Range of reach 9

Refrigerators 30

Risers 19

Roll-in-showers 27

Rolling storage carts 34

Safety 28,35

Semi-ambulatory 9

Sheltering arm grab bars 25

Showers 27

Sinks 23, 32

Sliding doors 18

Slide bolt 15

Stairs 19,20

Stools 31

Storage 29, 34

Stove 32

Swinging doors 18

Swing clear hinges 13

Tableware 35

Threshold 15

Toilets 24

Transfer showers 26

Tread 19

Tubs 26

Tub seat 26

Vanity 24

Vision panels 16

Vision loss 7

Walkers 12

Wheelchairs 9,11, 12,13

Work surfaces 31

43

INDEX

211 North Front Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101

www.phfa.org

DRH 12/05

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