Accessibility and Assistive Technology
HMN: General Information
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General Guidelines
This section should contain:
1. General Guidelines
2. Money-saving recommendations
3. Notebook paper for making notes, lists of what to purchase, etc.
General Guidelines
- Smoke detector needed in all rooms.
- Night lights in all rooms and halls.
- Glare free lighting inside home.
- Light controls: press instead of flip switch; 44/48 inches maximum height.
- Automatic sensor light at entry way.
- Doors: open 90 degrees; minimum of 32 inches wide or 4-6 inches wider than wheelchair rims; use retractable doors if possible; use a kick plate to protect it from marks made by wheelchair leg rests; maximum 5 lb force to open door.
- Minimum width of halls – 48 inches.
- Electrical outlets minimum 18 inches from floor.
- Use an interface touch switch to turn on/off lamps, appliances, electronic equipment, etc.
- Thermostats minimum 44 inches from floor.
- A minimum of one window per room should be modified for easy opening in case of emergency (e.g. push out with a lever); windowsills minimum 18 inches from floor.
- Use adjustable height shelving and rods for clothing in closet – minimum 3 feet height from floor; drawers/cabinet doors use loop handle pulls or horizontal handles – lever type.
Money Saving Recommendations
Before you hire a contractor, assess what you can do yourself to save money and perform with the help of family and friends.
- Change circular doorknobs to horizontal handles.
- Remove carpet if covering hardwoods; smooth, firm, low piling carpet is easier to maneuver in a manual wheelchair; eliminate throw rugs – in critical areas like the bathroom use double side tape or nonskid material to secure in place; avoid waxed slick floors.
- Remove doorsills.
- Purchase a drop arm commode to be positioned next to the bed.
- Purchase a tub bench.
- Remove sliding doors of the tub/shower and add a rod with a curtain; sew on Velcro strips and apply adhesive hook-eye to wall so that curtain can stay secure during bathing.
- Purchase a hand held shower that can be connected to current shower head.
- Re-arrange furniture and remove unnecessary pieces to allow wheelchair maneuverability.
- Remove doors and door jams and place a tension rod with a curtain for privacy.
- Be sure address number is visible outside house and on street mailbox in case of emergency.
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