5 Ways to Transform Your Home to be Handicap Accessible For Your Child
Your child deserves a home that they can navigate all on their own. Now, there are simple technologies that make mobility in the home easier for children with disabilities. This technology can be attached to showers, staircases, and even pools!
Transforming your home to be more accessible for children who use wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids can be affordable and simple with these tips!
Porch and Patio Ramps
The first thing to consider when making a house more accessible is how easy it is to enter and exit. Often the first obstacle when entering a home is the porch. Many porches utilize a stair system to reach the front door.
There are cheap ramp options online that you can simply install to one side of the porch. This allows for wheelchair access to the home without needing to be lifted manually. It returns autonomy to your child so that they can come and go as they need, without requiring help from others.
Stair Lifts
Stair lifts are a necessity if you have an upper level or basement in your home. A stair lift is exactly what it sounds like: a child can sit on the chair of a stair lift and the device moves smoothly upstairs, where the child can dismount.
Stair lifts often include a swivel so that the user can dismount easier. They can also be made grease-free so that it requires less daily maintenance. Jameson Medical stair lifts can be operated alone, meaning a child could learn how to use it themselves.
Step-in Tubs
The bathroom can be especially difficult to maneuver. Slick floors and tub walls can make getting in and out of the shower a hazard. Step-in tubs utilize a removable tub wall section to make entrance possible.
Users simply remove the side of the tub, enter, and then close it back up to begin. It improves safety for your child as they enter and exit, and makes the process easier altogether. The shower is a place where you get to relax and unwind. The step-in tub eliminates any safety or accessibility concerns in order to make this possible.
Pool Lifts
Children love having fun in the sun. This lift makes it possible for children of all abilities to enjoy a day at the pool. It functions similarly to the stair lift. It is comprised of a chair attached to a moving lift, which can lower your child in and out of the pool.
This device allows children to get in and out of the water safely. It operates quickly and smoothly so they won’t have to miss out on any fun.
Doorway Width and Knob
One of the major components of the home that impedes movement for children are doorknobs. Doorknobs are often not accessible for children with many different types of mobility impairments. There are easy solutions to this home design flaw!
Instead of doorknobs, opt for a push or pull door, a swinging door, or even a button mechanism. The simplest solution is to detach the doorknob and instead install hinges that allow for a simple push to move the door open. Some though may opt for a door that utilizes a button. This button, when pressed, causes the door to mechanically open, and then automatically close after people have passed through.
These modifications are simple and do not require any major reconstruction in the home. They can drastically improve the accessibility of the home for any child.
The Bottom Line
These are a few of many easy solutions that allow parents to modify their homes for increased accessibility. Try implementing these technologies, like a stair lift or push door, and watch your child’s life transform as they are able to move around the house with more accessibility than ever before.
I appreciate your tip about installing porch and patio ramps for a wheelchair. My grandmother is hoping to get a good lift chair recliner. She has really bad hips and needs help sitting up and down.