Test for Accessibility

Have you ever spent time in a wheel chair?  Well we hadn’t and we thought we should.  What better way to understand, even if for a short time, the complexities of navigating a walking world in a wheeled chair.  We set out to test a few spaces and here is what we found.

Jennie entering our home.

For starters, our front entry system is not accessible at all.  The three steps on the front of the home and the front door threshold do not welcome wheel chair access.  We also do not have railings on our front steps which would be a welcome aid for several of our family members.  Let’s see what we find on the inside.

Downstairs Guest Bath

Although we have a nice main floor guest bath, Jennie was not able to get into the space and if she could enter the space, she probably could not have closed the door and used the facilities.  Interior doors need to be 32-36″ wide and a 60″ floor space is ideal once you get in.  A pocket door may also be helpful for these spaces.

How does our range fair?

 Our cooktop/range in the kitchen worked well.  The controls for the appliance are all located on the front and the downdraft removes the need to reach way up to the vent hood to turn it on.

Our back patio is also not very accessible.  For starters, the threshold is too tall to easily navigate.  The steps, of course, are not wheel chair friendly.  If you could make it to the patio, it would also be nice to have a poured walk way around to the side of the home for more viewing and access.

Back Patio Door

All in all, our house is not so accessible.  It’s important to plan your accessibility not only for yourself, but for any guest that may visit the house during its lifespan.  That is where Universal Design principles can help guide your design needs.  Tune in again for our report on visiting a public park in wheelchairs!

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