How to Make Your Home Disability-Friendly?

You clearly don't want your WELCOME sign to be interpreted as 'UNWELCOME' by any of your loved ones. Would you do it? Will you ever want that sensation of 'home sweet home' to leave your life? Clearly not!

So why not design your home to reflect this?

Celebrations, family vacations, job endeavors, and even our daily routines are all planned. When it comes to building a house, though, we tend to focus on our immediate requirements rather than planning for the future.

Change is the law of nature, and our lives are steadfast obedient to it. As our mental and physical health deteriorates, so do our requirements. The demands of children differ from those of young parents; the needs of parents alter as they grow older, and a home should accommodate each individual's needs equally.

The desire to make a house as accessible as possible to everyone, regardless of their physical condition or aptitude, leads to the development of a concept known as 'Universal Design' for dwellings. A previous version of the concept, known as 'barrier free' infrastructure, was primarily perceived as a disability-related notion, and was thus advocated and heeded only by persons who are directly or indirectly affected by any type of physical handicap.

Disabled-Friendly Features of a Universally Designed Home

● A wide, gently sloping path leading to the front door should be free of steps.

At first glance, it appears that this feature is intended for wheelchair users. You may believe that you do not require this feature if you do not have a wheelchair user in your home. However, if you think about it logically and realistically, you'll find that this aspect of a house can also benefit those who aren't wheelchair users. A moderate slope with no steps makes it simple for a woman with a pram to take her infant outside. Small toddlers do not require the assistance of an adult to transport their trike or bicycle up and down the stairs... When they do little tasks, they gain confidence.

● Lever-handles should be used instead of knob handles on doors.

Everyone can use the lever-handles because they are simple to use. A person with arthritis problems or dexterity issues will have no trouble grabbing these. A person with a sleeping baby or too many shopping bags can simply open the door with their elbow... With knob handles, this is not possible.

● Parking should be more spacious (minimum 3,800 mm)

When you need to go down with large shopping bags, a baby in a pram, or a person using a wheelchair or walkers, larger parking places come in helpful.

When you have youngsters hopping up and down the cars like little monkeys, a larger parking lot relieves anxiety.

● Two-way switch

A two-way switch at the door and one at the bedside is always preferable to a one-way switch. Light switches that are truly two-way are beneficial to everyone. In the dark, no one feels safe strolling and banging into things. You can light up the room with the switch on the front door, go effortlessly to your bed, read any book for a good night's sleep, and turn off the light without getting out of bed.

● Adjustable or pull-out shelves should be used in rooms and kitchens.

Adjustable-height shelves allow persons of various heights to live in dignity without relying on others.

Pull-out shelves are ideal for kitchen shelves because they allow people of all heights to use the same shelf without difficulty. Wheelchair users and those with dwarfism would benefit greatly from such adjustable shelves.

● The bathroom should be large and have a wider entrance.

The restroom is wheelchair accessible due to its wider entrance (60 inches) and broad floor. It is also convenient for parents who need to bathe their tiny children. A smaller restroom increases the amount of discomfort for everyone.

● A crowded glass window should be strategically placed next to the main door.

The peephole (also known as a magic eye) in a door is made at a height that is inaccessible to wheelchair users, children, and adults who are short in stature. The person inside can view and talk to the guest through a window next to the main door without having to open it. It is not just a feature that makes practically everyone accessible, but it is also a good step in terms of security. There are a slew of other characteristics that distinguish Universal Design Homes. They may appear to be modifications for one type of disabled person or the other. They are adaptations, but they also make life easier for people who are not disabled.

Are you still perplexed as to why you need a globally designed home when you can get by without one? Compare the concept to the insurance policies in which you have invested your money. Just as insurance acts as a cushion to protect us from being too badly affected by unfavourable life events... Universal design is also a form of contingency planning. Nobody can stop themselves from ageing, and ageing has its own set of repercussions.

NDIS household tasks in Melbourne with universal designs enable people to live freely while dealing with the challenges of old age. In today's fast-paced world, disabling incidents are not uncommon. These mishaps cause a slew of issues, and if the residence is inaccessible, the issues and frustration multiply. A physical condition should not make you feel alienated from your own home, which is why you should invest in a universal home design. Furthermore, if you have disabled friends, you will be able to invite them over for a relaxing weekend stay at your house.

So, if you want to make your home more welcoming and full of positive energy, invest in universal design!