Designing a Kitchen for Physical Disabilities
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
The same Baby Boomers who are steering
interior design choices are creating a demand for products and designs that
address physical abilities and needs.
·
Door knobs are being replaced
with levers that are easier to grasp.
·
Doorways are becoming wider to
accommodate a wheelchair.
·
Appliances are being raised to
relieve that aching back.
If you are designing a kitchen to
accommodate a disability or want to plan for the future, there are many issues
to consider. If you are planning for the possibility of needing such changes,
consider how they will affect the resale value of your house.
Structural considerations
When designing a kitchen, think about
how you will use the space. If you use a
wheelchair or walker, you may not want an island near the counters, as
it will limit mobility. You will need wider doorways for wheelchair access
throughout the house.
Ask your contractor about:
·
expanding a 30 or 32-inch door
opening to 36 inches
·
how wider doorways will affect
the trim around the doors, the location of the electrical outlets and plumbing
and cooling systems, and the amount of floor material used
·
the availability of 33-inch
high cabinets, which are easier to reach from a wheelchair than the more
standard 36-inch cabinet
·
lowering the kitchen sink by
six to eight inches for wheelchair accessibility
·
using levers instead of knobs
on cabinet doors and drawers
·
the use of light to help
visibility and mobility
Appliances
There are many options. Frigidaire, for
example, has a wall mounted convection oven with a door that opens sideways
instead of down. "The nice thing about it is if you have a disability you
don't have to reach across the oven door to get into it," said Tony Evans,
a spokesperson for the Augusta, Ga.-based company.
This design also works well in a small
kitchen instead of an oven door that opens down into the work space, Evans
said. The oven also can be installed at varying heights, including under a
counter.
"The basic thing is looking at
good ergonomics," he said. "Good fundamental design is easy to use
and it's good for everyone. Even though you don't have some disability you'll
benefit from good design."
Appliances also are being made with
electronic touch controls and lettering that is easier to read, features which
can help those with hand and visual impairments. "It's not always the
size, it's how clear it is," Evans said. "We try to combine the right
type face. If you have a type face with a lot of curly cues it doesn't matter
how big it is, it can be hard to read.
"Some cooktops have controls at
the front so that a person does not have to reach across the oven. This
appliance can be installed on top of a cabinet with doors that roll inward
instead of opening outward. This will allow someone in a wheelchair to move
closer to the cabinet.
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