3 Ways To Make Your Home More Accessible To Children In Wheelchairs

Whether you have a child who’s been in a wheelchair for years or has just sustained an injury that requires this new equipment, it’s important for the functionality of your household and your child for him or her to be able to make their way around your home. But in many houses, doors and hallways aren’t designed to be wide enough, whilst changes in elevation can make mobility difficult. Steep gardens can pose a problem, for example, so you may want to compare using an electric wheelchair vs mobility scooter to find a temporary solution. Luckily, there are some permanent adjustments you can make that will help make things easier for your child. To show you how you can do this, here are three ways you can make your home more accessible to children in wheelchairs.

Make Your Doorways Wider

Once your child is in a room, it’s probably easier for him or her to maneuver around in this space than it is to get into this space in the first place. This is because many standard doorways aren’t wide enough for a full-sized wheelchair to fit through. If your child is younger, you might not have any real issues with this yet. But as they get older, you’ll want to find a way to make your doorways wider. According to Rachel Broughman, a contributor to Family Handyman, you can either wide doorways by creating a whole new doorway out of your existing one, which can be expensive, or by adding doors with offset hinges, which is a less expensive option but one that might not give you as much space as you’d hoped.

Move Switches or Handles Lower

When sitting in a wheelchair, your child is going to be lower than if he or she were able to stand. Because of this, it can be very challenging for your child to be able to reach things. To combat this, DoItYourself.com recommend that you move certain things lower on the walls so that your child can reach them. You might want to consider moving things like light switches, door handles, and faucet taps lower so your child can use them on his or her own. If this isn’t possible, try to find creative ways that your child can use tools to help them reach whatever they need.

Consider How You’ll Get Around Stairs

If you have stairs in your home, whether they’re on the exterior or interior, you’re going to want to find a way for your child to get around these obstacles. According to Craig A. Shutt, a contributor to HGTV.com, the most common adjustments include putting in ramps or installing things like lifts. With these additions, your child can get his or her wheelchair wherever they need without having to get out of their seat or have someone else help them too much.

If you have a child in a wheelchair, consider using the tips mentioned above to help make your home more accessible to him or her.