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From: Roger Conroy on 15 Jul 2008 08:13
I'm looking for simple guidlines on how to adapt an existing home to suit a
wheelchair user.

This is for parents who's teenage son suffered an SCI in an accident and
will be coming home from rehab in a few months.
Its not yet known if he will be using a manual or powered chair.

What I need is simple stuff like how much space to allow for turning the
chair, where to put grab rails in the bathroom, specs for ramps, doorways,
etc.
Preferably a single document/website rather than bits and pieces scattered
all over the web.


From: Burgerman on 15 Jul 2008 12:29
"Roger Conroy" <rogerconroy.nospam(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:g5i498$9fq$1(a)registered.motzarella.org...
> I'm looking for simple guidlines on how to adapt an existing home to suit
> a wheelchair user.
>
> This is for parents who's teenage son suffered an SCI in an accident and
> will be coming home from rehab in a few months.
> Its not yet known if he will be using a manual or powered chair.
>
> What I need is simple stuff like how much space to allow for turning the
> chair, where to put grab rails in the bathroom, specs for ramps, doorways,
> etc.
> Preferably a single document/website rather than bits and pieces scattered
> all over the web.
>


Having adapted my home I can tell you that apart from basics you are much
better waiting untill he can tell you as and when he can because everyone is
different. Otherwise much money is wasted. Ans get a council / hospital OT
to have a look at your plans and she can get you a grant to modify rooms,
build shower room,s, even drive space, doors widening, modded kitchens etc.

Eg I needed a wider front door. That was pretty easy to do and a ramp into
the house. That was before I could get in and come home from hospital. The
shallower the better for manual chairs (try one on a slope yourself!)
although the "recommended" is 1 in 20 or 1 in12 max where space alows no
alternative.

Again this depends if he is manual or electric. I chose electric after a
year at home struggling since a manual chair is frankly a right pain in the
butt no matter how much brainwashing the OTs give you to the "cheaper"
option. Depending on individual and where you live etc. But try navigating a
house/doorways with a bowl of soup in one hand in a manual chair and you
will soon see why they are not really practical... You go in circles like a
bug with a leg missing. Never mind ramps and doors!

And he will probably need a roll in shower room, a bench to transfer to and
from thats waterproof, all doors about 800mm wide idealy and as much turning
space as you can get. Have a look at disabled loos in pubs etc. Generally
these are too small for full time home use.

Beds... Enough space for access both sides with a powerchair. If only to
make swapping sheets and stuff easier. (dont ask!)

Vehicle? You need to have enough concrete to park and get in or out. My
drive looks like a car park. Just imagine yourself in a wheelchair or borrow
one and go around the house and see what is desperately needed. Leave the
rest till later.

From: Roger Conroy on 15 Jul 2008 12:55

"Burgerman" <burgerman(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:qf4fk.1011$5U6.566(a)newsfe08.ams2...
> "Roger Conroy" <rogerconroy.nospam(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:g5i498$9fq$1(a)registered.motzarella.org...
>> I'm looking for simple guidlines on how to adapt an existing home to suit
>> a wheelchair user.
>>
>> This is for parents who's teenage son suffered an SCI in an accident and
>> will be coming home from rehab in a few months.
>> Its not yet known if he will be using a manual or powered chair.
>>
>> What I need is simple stuff like how much space to allow for turning the
>> chair, where to put grab rails in the bathroom, specs for ramps,
>> doorways, etc.
>> Preferably a single document/website rather than bits and pieces
>> scattered all over the web.
>>
>
>
> Having adapted my home I can tell you that apart from basics you are much
> better waiting untill he can tell you as and when he can because everyone
> is different. Otherwise much money is wasted. Ans get a council / hospital
> OT to have a look at your plans and she can get you a grant to modify
> rooms, build shower room,s, even drive space, doors widening, modded
> kitchens etc.
>
> Eg I needed a wider front door. That was pretty easy to do and a ramp into
> the house. That was before I could get in and come home from hospital. The
> shallower the better for manual chairs (try one on a slope yourself!)
> although the "recommended" is 1 in 20 or 1 in12 max where space alows no
> alternative.
>
> Again this depends if he is manual or electric. I chose electric after a
> year at home struggling since a manual chair is frankly a right pain in
> the butt no matter how much brainwashing the OTs give you to the "cheaper"
> option. Depending on individual and where you live etc. But try navigating
> a house/doorways with a bowl of soup in one hand in a manual chair and you
> will soon see why they are not really practical... You go in circles like
> a bug with a leg missing. Never mind ramps and doors!
>
> And he will probably need a roll in shower room, a bench to transfer to
> and from thats waterproof, all doors about 800mm wide idealy and as much
> turning space as you can get. Have a look at disabled loos in pubs etc.
> Generally these are too small for full time home use.
>
> Beds... Enough space for access both sides with a powerchair. If only to
> make swapping sheets and stuff easier. (dont ask!)
>
> Vehicle? You need to have enough concrete to park and get in or out. My
> drive looks like a car park. Just imagine yourself in a wheelchair or
> borrow one and go around the house and see what is desperately needed.
> Leave the rest till later.

Thanks for you response but I really need a document / website.
I am a wheelchair user (manual) and my apartment is fully accessable.
The boy's parents asked me if I can help them but I cannot afford the time
to constantly go to their house to advise them and the various contractors.
A document that the builder/plumber etc can use is what I'm after.
"Council" assitance/advice simply does not exist in this country (South
Africa) and as for a "grant" - you have a better chance of winning the
lottery!


From: Burgerman on 15 Jul 2008 14:38
"Roger Conroy" <rogerconroy.nospam(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:g5ikpf$9v9$1(a)registered.motzarella.org...
>
> "Burgerman" <burgerman(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:qf4fk.1011$5U6.566(a)newsfe08.ams2...
>> "Roger Conroy" <rogerconroy.nospam(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:g5i498$9fq$1(a)registered.motzarella.org...
>>> I'm looking for simple guidlines on how to adapt an existing home to
>>> suit a wheelchair user.
>>>
>>> This is for parents who's teenage son suffered an SCI in an accident and
>>> will be coming home from rehab in a few months.
>>> Its not yet known if he will be using a manual or powered chair.
>>>
>>> What I need is simple stuff like how much space to allow for turning the
>>> chair, where to put grab rails in the bathroom, specs for ramps,
>>> doorways, etc.
>>> Preferably a single document/website rather than bits and pieces
>>> scattered all over the web.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Having adapted my home I can tell you that apart from basics you are much
>> better waiting untill he can tell you as and when he can because everyone
>> is different. Otherwise much money is wasted. Ans get a council /
>> hospital OT to have a look at your plans and she can get you a grant to
>> modify rooms, build shower room,s, even drive space, doors widening,
>> modded kitchens etc.
>>
>> Eg I needed a wider front door. That was pretty easy to do and a ramp
>> into the house. That was before I could get in and come home from
>> hospital. The shallower the better for manual chairs (try one on a slope
>> yourself!) although the "recommended" is 1 in 20 or 1 in12 max where
>> space alows no alternative.
>>
>> Again this depends if he is manual or electric. I chose electric after a
>> year at home struggling since a manual chair is frankly a right pain in
>> the butt no matter how much brainwashing the OTs give you to the
>> "cheaper" option. Depending on individual and where you live etc. But try
>> navigating a house/doorways with a bowl of soup in one hand in a manual
>> chair and you will soon see why they are not really practical... You go
>> in circles like a bug with a leg missing. Never mind ramps and doors!
>>
>> And he will probably need a roll in shower room, a bench to transfer to
>> and from thats waterproof, all doors about 800mm wide idealy and as much
>> turning space as you can get. Have a look at disabled loos in pubs etc.
>> Generally these are too small for full time home use.
>>
>> Beds... Enough space for access both sides with a powerchair. If only to
>> make swapping sheets and stuff easier. (dont ask!)
>>
>> Vehicle? You need to have enough concrete to park and get in or out. My
>> drive looks like a car park. Just imagine yourself in a wheelchair or
>> borrow one and go around the house and see what is desperately needed.
>> Leave the rest till later.
>
> Thanks for you response but I really need a document / website.
> I am a wheelchair user (manual) and my apartment is fully accessable.
> The boy's parents asked me if I can help them but I cannot afford the time
> to constantly go to their house to advise them and the various
> contractors. A document that the builder/plumber etc can use is what I'm
> after.
> "Council" assitance/advice simply does not exist in this country (South
> Africa) and as for a "grant" - you have a better chance of winning the
> lottery!
>


I doubt you will ever find a one size fits all document. If you do it will
have to cover every eventuality from tetraplegic, bariatric, deaf, blind,
nuts, etc...
Which he wont need most of but which costs money.


From: Lee on 17 Jul 2008 12:52
Roger Conroy wrote:
> I'm looking for simple guidlines on how to adapt an existing home to suit a
> wheelchair user.
>
> This is for parents who's teenage son suffered an SCI in an accident and
> will be coming home from rehab in a few months.
> Its not yet known if he will be using a manual or powered chair.
>
> What I need is simple stuff like how much space to allow for turning the
> chair, where to put grab rails in the bathroom, specs for ramps, doorways,
> etc.
> Preferably a single document/website rather than bits and pieces scattered
> all over the web.
>
>
Roger..... this may be helpful

http://www.rampsinfo.com/channel/BuildaWheelchairRamp.php

http://www.servicemagic.com/tloc/Toronto-KS/Disability-Ramps-Build/

Regards
Lee in Toronto
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