What Makes a House Wheelchair Accessible?

Accessibility in the home goes beyond ramps and accessible floor plans. It’s about creating a space where day-to-day activities, like preparing a meal, taking a shower, or getting into bed, can be done with ease and dignity. Whether you're building a new home, renovating an existing one, or exploring alternative housing options like renting an apartment or purchasing a tiny home, an accessible living space can allow people with disabilities to be independent.

How to Make a Home Accessible

While private homes are not subject to the federal standards set in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), many of the guidelines below can be applied in homes to improve safety, comfort, and long-term accessibility.

1. Build or Install a Wheelchair Ramp

A ramp provides step-free entry and exit to various spaces in a home. The ADA recommends a ramp slope ratio of 1:12, meaning every inch of step height requires at least 12 inches of ramp to ensure a gradual incline. Ramps may also feature sturdy handrails on both sides and a slip-resistant surface to prevent falls. Read our article on how to build a wheelchair ramp to learn more.

2. Doorways and Hallways

Wide, unobstructed doorways and hallways ensure a home is accessible for individuals who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The ADA requires doorways to be at least 32 inches wide and hallways to measure a minimum of 36 inches across.

Doors can largely be eliminated with an open floor plan. When doors are needed, consider installing pocket doors or sliding doors, which maximize usable space. These doors can be built with various types of handles to ensure accessibility.

3. Open Floor Plans and Open Space

Open floor plans are important for those using mobility aids. The ADA requires a five-foot turning radius so a mobility aid user can make a 360-degree turn without running into obstacles. Clear pathways, free from furniture or decorative barriers, allow for greater accessibility.

4. Accessible Kitchen Modifications

Accessible kitchens often have lowered storage space, lower countertops, and roll-under sinks. ADA compliant appliances also ensure safe and easy meal preparation. Companies like Whirlpool and GE Appliances make ADA compliant refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges.

5. Accessible Bathroom Modifications

The bathroom is often considered the most dangerous room in the home due to the high risk of falls, especially for individuals with mobility disabilities and older adults. An accessible bathroom with a roll-in shower, handheld shower head, grab bars, and a shower bench can significantly reduce these risks.

6. Stairlifts and Elevators

A single-story home can ensure ease of access for people with disabilities; however, homeowners who already live in a two-story home can renovate. A stairlift or elevator can be installed to ensure ease of access to all areas of the home.

7. Wheelchair Accessible Closets

Lowered or pull-down closet rods allow clothes to remain within reach. Shelving systems and drawers installed at lowered heights ensure clothes, shoes, and accessories can be retrieved easily.

8. Accessible Technology and Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices and assistive technology can make a home more accessible. These devices may allow users to adjust thermostats, lighting, and window shades, monitor the front door, open garage doors, and operate kitchen appliances through smartphone applications or voice commands.

9. Outdoor Spaces

Those who live in a home with outdoor space like a deck, pool, or garden can make these areas accessible while ensuring they withstand outdoor elements. Pool lifts, deck ramps, and raised garden beds can be installed to provide accessibility outdoors.

What Is the Difference Between ADA Compliant and Accsesible?

All ADA compliant spaces are accessible, but not all accessible spaces are ADA compliant.

ADA compliance refers to the federal law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects the rights of disabled people in public spaces like schools, stores, and restaurants. ADA law requires these spaces to be accessible to people with disabilities. For example, a school must have a wheelchair ramp that meets specific slope and width criteria to be ADA compliant.

Accessible is a broad term that refers to the ability to be reached or entered. For example, a person may choose to install handrails on their porch steps. While handrails may allow some people with mobility disabilities to reach their front door and enter their home, a ramp would be more sufficient for others.

ADA compliance is not required in private homes, but many homeowners implement ADA guidelines at home to ensure safety and long-term accessibility.

How Much Does It Cost to Build an Accessible Home?

The cost to build an accessible home varies widely. The size of the home, its geographical location, and the specific accessibility features you plan to incorporate are just a few of the many factors that contribute to the overall cost of a wheelchair accessible home.

Rather than building from scratch, some people choose to renovate their existing home to make it wheelchair accessible.

Accessible Home Remodeling

Changes in mobility or disability often do not require the purchase of a new home. Many homes can be remodeled for accessibility, with renovations done in stages or throughout the entire home, ranging from small projects to extensive modifications.

For example, imagine Mary, who uses a walker for mobility. She may first replace carpet with hardwood floors to allow for smoother navigation. If Mary’s needs change with age, her home may later require more extensive remodeling, such as replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower and adding grab bars.

Whether renovating an existing home for accessibility, renting an accessible apartment, or purchasing a wheelchair accessible tiny home, check out the related articles below to learn more about accessible living spaces.