Making Your Home Wheelchair Accessible

KD Smart Chair, manufacturer of lightweight power wheelchairs has recently released an infographic that visualizes the numbers, facts and figures about making your home wheelchair accessible. This task can feel overwhelming for many new homeowners. However, this infographic makes it feel easy to accomplish creating a wheelchair friendly home. The following details will help you reach your goal and create a comfortable space to enjoy for many years to come.

• Clear Pathways – Every wheelchair user knows that a clear pathway is absolutely essential to living comfortably. Standard widths are 36” for hallways and 32” for doorways and minimum clearance for 180 degree turns which is 36” in all directions. Your goal is to create accommodating widths for wheelchairs, rollators and mobility scooters.
• Lighting – Place lighting controls that are easy to access throughout your entire home. Your home should have the capability of being well-lit anytime of the day.
• Security – Have an alarm system installed throughout your home for protection. Make sure the alert systems and phones are installed in easy to reach places.
• Kitchen – The entrance way or door opening to your kitchen should be minimum 32” wide. The cabinet height and countertop should be wheelchair accessible with your table standing at 27” and 30” x 48” seating space.
• Bathroom – To create the perfect wheelchair accessible bathroom you will want to have grab bars in the tub and shower area with 36” clearance, grab bars located next to the toilet, a bath tub lift measuring 13” – 30” bottom, a commode lift and an alert system or phone near the toilet and shower for emergencies.
• Bedroom – Place an alert system or phone near your bed for easy access and have an overhang lift installed to get in/out of your bed.
• Basement – Have a stair lift installed to provide you with easy access to your basement.
• Garage – The entry door to your garage should be minimum 32” wide. A garage interior door ramp is recommended for quick car access. You should also have wheelchair accessible floor area to make it easy to unload and load your car.
• Exterior – To make things easy for you to enter and exit your home a portable ramp is required. You can also install a vertical platform lift if you have higher outdoor staircases or an all-weather outdoor stair lift.

The helpful infographic from KD Smart Chair provides a clear vision of what is needed to create a wheelchair accessible home. It covers the entire home including the exterior entry way, garage, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and basement. Following the guidelines and information provided through the infographic is a great way to assure your home is properly prepared for wheelchair accessibility.