Assistive Technology in the Home
To make your home accessible, consider the following questions.

Indoors

Are switches and thermostats located no more than 48 inches from the floor for easy access?

Can conventional wall light switches be replaced with rocker-switch plates?

Do switches have locator lights in them so they can be easily found in the dark?

Can electrical outlets be placed at least 27 inches from the floor to minimize bending?

Is carpeting low-pile and securely fastened to the floor so that a wheelchair or walker can easily navigate? You may want to remove throw rugs, which can get in the way of wheelchairs, crutches and walkers.

Do stairs have a sturdy, easily grabbed handrail and banister?

Is carpeting in good repair and tightly secured to the steps?

Have ceiling lights been replaced with wall lights so light bulbs can be easily replaced?

Have light bulbs been replaced with long-life bulbs? You might consider investing in a light-bulb changer, available at most hardware stores.

Do floor and table lamps have switches activated by touch or sound?

Is there a convenient location in which to keep a rechargeable flashlight in case of a power failure?

Do doors have lever handles instead of round doorknobs?

Are doorways at least 32 inches wide? If not, other options include: swing-clear (recessed) hinges, pocket doors and accordion doors.

Is the house wired with signal devices that visually indicate the position of phone, door, alarm clock, etc.?

Does every room in the house have a personal security device that will alert help if someone falls or needs emergency assistance? There are a number of these devices on the market. Some, when activated, make a phone call to a central location that can dispatch help. Others are programmed to ring the home phone at pre-arranged times during the day; if the phone is not answered, emergency personnel are sent to the house.
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Household Products

Are visual displays large enough and sufficiently bright or dark against their backgrounds to be legible?

Are recorded or synthesized voice instructions limited to a maximum of five choices?

Do latches and snaps require a minimum level of strength?

Are slide or toggle switches used in place of dials?

Are knobs and dials large enough to grasp easily?

Are the on/off controls safely and conveniently located on the front of the device?

Is the emergency switch hidden on the back of the unit and difficult to reach?

Are there remote controls?

Is the equipment easy to handle? Are modular units easy to assemble and install?

Are operation and maintenance instructions clear and easy to read? Are they available in large print, Braille, audio cassette or video cassette?

Are there alternate designs of the product that accommodate the relevant impairment? For example, a microwave oven with synthesized voice that indicates a given setting is useful.

Can the product be adapted to fit your needs? For example, can Braille, tactile or large print labels be ordered?
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Kitchen

The kitchen is usually one of the most lived-in rooms in the house, where cooking, eating, cleaning and entertaining can all take place. Because of the potential for burns, spills and fires, you should ask these questions about kitchen modifications.

Do shelves roll out to minimize bending?

Is there adequate storage space? If not, you may want to modify a broom closet into an easily accessible pantry.

Does at least one shelf have cutouts that can hold bowls securely for one-handed stirring, at a level convenient to a person who is seated?

Is there a scorch-proof shelf near the oven?

Is lighting adequate and directed over the work areas?

Do kitchen utensils have easy-grip handles?

Is the sink easily accessible? Some sinks have sloped fronts so that dishes can be slid into them. In addition, long-handled lever faucets and spray nozzles simplify dishwashing.

Does the refrigerator have a side-by-side refrigerator-freezer setup or a freezer on the bottom for easy access?

Are burner controls mounted on the front of the stove to eliminate the risk of burns from reaching over a heating element?

Are fire extinguishers reachable, lightweight, easy-to-use and located away from the oven?

Do dishwashers, microwaves, washers and dryers have adequate labels for their settings? Some manufacturers will provide Braille or tactile labels, or customized knob turners upon request.

Besides these significant modifications, the following tricks of the trade allow easier maneuvering in the kitchen.

A small mirror mounted over the range allows seated cooks to see into the pans on back burners.

Unbreakable glass pots let seated cooks see how the food is cooking.

Clothes pins attached to burner knobs can make turning easier.
An old-fashioned potato masher or slotted spoon can be used to turn knobs on a clothes dryer.

Tongs can help remove cans or boxes from cabinet and refrigerator shelves.
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Bathroom

Modifications in the bathroom should be made to prevent falls and eliminate the hazards of using electrical appliances around water. Privacy and dignity need to be considered, along with accessibility and safety.

Is the entry door adequate? If the doorway is too narrow, sliding doors can add needed space. These doors recess into the wall and don't get in the way. Or a bathroom door can be relocated; for instance, the wall of an adjoining closet can be knocked out to create a new doorway.

Will a commode or shower chair fit in the bathtub or shower? If possible, could it be permanently installed?

When installing a roll-in shower stall, have you considered allowing room for assistance by an attendant?

Is a grab bar located over the toilet and the tub to assist the person in getting up and down?

Is the faucet hardware easy to operate, with easy-to-turn knobs or levers?

Does the shower have an anti-scald mixer?

Do the wet surfaces have anti-slip material?

Is the sink located at least 27 inches from the floor so an individual in a wheelchair can approach it straight on?

Do combs, hair brushes and toothbrushes have easy-grip handles?

Does the bathroom have a telephone or emergency alert device?
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Living Room

Living rooms, dens and family rooms are fairly easy to make accessible. Some of the major considerations have already been addressed: wall switches, thermostats, electrical outlets and carpeting.

Are windows easy to open? Windows that tilt out at the base and sliding windows make opening easy.

Do the TV and VCR have remote controls?

Has a cordless phone been installed? This can be an important safety and communications device for people with mobility impairments.

Are phone jacks and telephones installed throughout the house for safety and security?

Do remote control devices such as clap on/off or motion detector lighting allow control of appliances and lights from another room? For instance, these devices can be used to turn lights on before entering a room.

Does the front door have an intercom? Another useful device is a wireless doorbell, which can be carried from room to room to ensure that ringing is heard.
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Bedroom

Is the bed the correct height for a minimally assisted wheelchair-to-bed transfer?

Can lamps near the bed be turned on by touching the lamp base?

Does floor space permit adequate turning radius for a wheelchair?

Do closet lights turn on automatically when the door is opened?

Can the height of the clothing rods be adjusted for easier reach?

Are curtains of the easy-gliding type, rather than curtain rods and drawstrings?

Is there a bedside caddy to keep magazines, knitting and other items within easy reach?

Is there a bedside phone?

Is the clock sufficiently bright for the person's needs? Talking clocks are also available for people with low vision; check to be sure that such clocks are loud enough to be heard. Light alarms and bed vibrators are available to alert people with hearing impairments.
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Garage

Is the garage wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair exiting from a van, or will the person have to exit the van outdoors?

Is the garage entrance at least seven feet high for the van clearance? Height may vary for roof-modified vans.

Is there an automatic garage door opener?

Are the thresholds in the garage accessible to wheelchairs, walkers or people with limited mobility?

Are gardening and other tools hung low enough to be easily reached?
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Outdoors

Are doors and walkways at least 32 inches wide to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers?

Is there a ramp and is it in good condition? A general rule for ramp construction is for every inch in height, the ramp should extend 12 inches. Also, the ramp should have a platform landing large enough for a door to open while a wheelchair is positioned on the landing.

Do sliding glass doors have low thresholds?

Are railings installed on both sides of door steps?

Do the doors have a lever door handle rather than a doorknob?

Is there a single-action deadbolt lock on the inside of the door?

Are walkway and porch areas well lit?

Is the mailbox in a location that makes it easy to retrieve mail?

• Electrowriters, which allow messages to be sent electronically by transmitting an image written or drawn on an electronic pad to a receiving unit.
• Hands-free headset phones and telephone amplifiers.
• Reading machines that convert printed matter to synthesized speech.
• Optical-to-tactile converters that convert the image of a printed letter to a vibrating, tactile form that can be felt with a finger.
• Voice-activated computer systems that eliminate the need for the user to touch the keyboard.
• Computer software - word reduction/expansion to limit the number of keystrokes, "sticky key" programs to allow simultaneous commands to be done sequentially, and screen magnification programs.