Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Wheelchair Accessible House Plans


It's a rare occasion to be looking for a wheelchair accessible house and actually find one. It's much more realistic to buy a house that you love for its inherent qualities and invest the time and money necessary to customize your accessible dream home. Or better yet, how about building! Building a home from the ground up is the ultimate way to achieve the house you've always wanted, equipped with every feature you could possibly imagine. First things first, you're going to need a plan.

Innovative homeowners and builders are the masterminds behind the numerous plans available today that anticipate the limitations and needs of wheelchair users. As the population of North America ages, the demand for accessible housing will increase. This means the variety of home plans available will also get larger, underlining the enduring desire for independent living. By definition, accessible design basically refers to a dwelling that meets certain requirements to achieve accessibility and more plans are constantly in development.

You want comfort, a reflection of your personality, and functionality for your wheelchair accessible home, all without breaking the bank. People in wheelchairs face many of the same challenges in home design as anyone else, but with the added consideration of how to achieve the most independence. An 'accessible home' could include the addition of grab bars and widened doorways, to full-scale elevators. For an individual in a wheelchair, the goal is to be able to do whatever you want to do with little or no assistance from others, and this can mean something different for everyone.

An accessible home often includes larger doorways, fewer obstacles and modified bathrooms and kitchens. For wheelchair users, ramps are a must-have modification at home. This includes the consideration of entrance width (a minimum of 32-inches for a wheelchair), perhaps with swing clear, offset door hinges. Lower counter heights are also a good idea, and many consider installing a drop leaf shelf for extra workspace. Add easy to use hardware on drawers and cupboards, as well as custom made storage systems. These minor details will end up making major differences.

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