Businesses across America have been striving to meet the needs of all their consumers. From easy online orders to conveniently accessible stores they have been successful in meeting customer demand which got me thinking about how businesses have been successful by ensuring their stores have been easily accessible for people with disabilities.

Countless theme parks, zoos, and other businesses have built their entities to be accessible to everyone, no matter the disability. Considering this, I was curious to see how newer homes were begin designed in order to meet the needs of disabled buyers.

Accessible Housing

Considering most of the homes that become listed on the market, almost every single one lacked basic accessibility features. Accessible housing would require the appropriate modification to allow those with a disability to independently lead their lives.

In order to consider someone with a disability for a home, simple features and design would need to be present. Depending upon the type of disability, one might require special accommodations. Consider just a few:  

Entry Way

The entry way to any home serves a purpose to invite the homeowner and their guests. To serve this purpose for all people the doorway will require a spacious width in order to accommodate a wheelchair. If your home is already built and widening the opening of the front door is not an option, consider swing-away hinges to make up for lost space.

Additionally, consider the placement of the door lock. Would someone bound by wheelchair be able to reach? The same rings truths of light switches and power plugs.

Kitchen

Another consideration to take is the kitchen. Cabinets can be a hard to reach spot, especially if you’re wheelchair bound. It would be wise to consider the height of the cabinets in order to meet the needs of others. Also, when considering the sink, consider the removal of cabinet doors that could allow for someone in a wheelchair to utilize this space.

For lower cabinets, remember that a lazy Susan has always proven to provide sufficient space for homeowners. This can help maximize the use of the lower cabinets for any hard to reach upper cabinets.

Bathroom

For someone with a disability, the bathroom can be an obstacle. Between bathtubs, countertops, and sinks; the visit can be discouraging. If you’re building a home for someone who might require special accommodation, consider a shower that can be easily entered through rolling in. You may also want to consider grab bars as an inexpensive cost as well. This can help your consumer easily make their way in and out of the shower and tub.

The sink style has also proven to make a difference as well. Consider the range of the faucet and knobs as you take into consideration of your buyers as well.

As mentioned earlier, grab bars have been successful in helping someone transition. This can also be implemented for toilet use. Be sure to consider this if you’re currently building a home for someone with a disability.