the art of accessible
design
where to
start
When designing an accessible home or space within a home, you should look for a person or business that has experience in accessible design, they should also have knowledge in the products they recommend, a good understanding of the product costs, and they should be able to tell you, or your contractors where you can purchase the products they recommend.
The designer should also have experience working with disabled people and asking what their specific needs are.
All disabilities are different, even the same disability in different people creates different needs in different areas of their home.
It is essential to ask questions for full customizations.
what makes us
different
We have more than 25 years of experience Internationally, in Accessible Design, building accessible homes, and as a distributor and retailer of the products used to make homes accessible.
Our experience and expertise in the accessibility market, really is second to none.
We work with private clients, national home builders, general contractors, remodeling contractors, architects, and design firms.
We can design from start to finish or work with your existing teams to make any home accessible.
For design enquiries please email: Design@AdaptedLiving.com
Our wait list for home builders, architects and designers is approximately 35 months, although it is possible to get on our cancellation list for quicker service in some instances.
Private clients have approximately a 2-3 week wait list depending on the size of the project.
the basics of accessible
design
Removing barriers from ALL new build homes and new renovations that generally require expensive structural renovations to remove barriers for disabled people to live in their own homes and rental homes.
The following guidelines would make these areas accessible for everyone, without the need of expensive structural modifications at a later date.
36 inch external doors, with ramps to all entrances and exits.
Doorways that are 32 inches wide, should be installed throughout the home. This allows access for people using wheelchairs to ALL rooms.
Bathroom doors should be 32 inches wide and should also be sliding, either by way of pocket door, or externally sliding. The use of sliding doors allows the door to close with a wheelchair inside, allowing privacy, and independence for everyone.
There should be at least one wheelchair accessible bathroom in every new or newly renovated home, including a step free, roll in shower with the controls placed at a suitable height for a seated position, including a shower head on a height adjustable slide bar, allowing the shower to be used from a seated or standing position.
There are also a lot of customizations that are needed to meet individual needs, because not every disability is the same, there is no way one blueprint would work for everyone.
essentials
list
- Wheelchair accessible entrances and exits with 36 inch doors.
- A minimum of 32 inch doors throughout the inside of the home.
- A 32 inch sliding door on at least one ground floor bathroom.
- A roll in shower in the same accessible bathroom.
- A wheelchair accessible wash basin in the same accessible bathroom.
- On homes that ramps are not possible because of the lot height or flood zone, a lift installation area should be included in the architects design for a non structural installation if necessary at a later date.
- Outlets and light switches should be installed within ADA required heights, Even though ADA regulations do not regulate private residences, this is a standard height that is usable.
- on wood frame homes, bathroom walls should be blocked in the shower, around toilets and around the wash basin for safe future grab bar installation.
changing the future
together
The future of housing design should be accessibility for everyone.
Every new home built should be done with accessibility in mind, with all external entrances being wheelchair accessible.
At least one ground floor wheelchair accessible bathroom with a roll in shower, and all internal doorways should be a minimum of 32 inches wide.
No more excuses!
accessible kitchen
ideas
Kitchens can be designed and installed to suit people of different heights and to be fully wheelchair accessible.
This allows a wheelchair user to access the sink and cooktop and the upper cabinets at the touch of a button. The upper cabinets and countertop can also be raised back up at the touch of a button.
This particular kitchen also has the option of hanging cabinets underneath the countertop as permanent or temporary fixtures.
Kitchen appliances can also be installed on lifts inside the lower cabinets, this allows them to raise up to countertop height without having to lift them by hand.
This kind of installation is great for permanent and temporary disabilities.
accessible bathroom
ideas
Bathrooms can be custom built, semi-custom and they can also have flexible height wash basin that is installed on a lift, allowing them to be moved to a comfortable height for a seated or standing position at the touch of a button.
A roll in shower is a necessity that should be installed in at least one bathroom in every home.
A comfort height toilet can also be installed with a bidet seat allowing for automatic wash and dry at the touch of a button.
Grab bars can be added later after the users requirements are known
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