The following sites are great for finding information about the
American Disability Act (ADA) guidelines for your home or business.
It is extremely important and beneficial when constructing a home or
building, for measurements to meet ADA requirements,
especially when a family member or employee is disabled. Keep in
mind that that all of the measurements given, are the “minimum”
required. Doorway and hallway widths will vary depending upon the
size of the individual and/or the width of their wheelchair.
Key things to remember:
• Entry and exits should be barrier-free (eliminate stairs, use ramps, and keep threshold heights at a minimum).
• When building a ramp, remember that for every inch of vertical height you need to have a foot length in ramp (For example: 18 inches of height requires a ramp of 18 feet in length). Ramps need to have level landings at the bottom and top of every ramp. If a ramp exceeds 30 feet in length, a landing needs to be made at the bottom/top connecting to the remaining ramp length.
• Flooring in the home should be flat and smooth to ease mobility in a wheelchair (wood, tile, linoleum, and commercial are good suggestions).
• Hallways should be wide enough to allow an individual in a wheelchair to turn around with ease of needed.
HINT: If it is not possible to make your entire home wheelchair accessible,
make the pathway between bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, family room,
and at least one entrance/exit into your home accessible.
Home modifications and family tips
This bathroom was built large enough to accommodate movement of a large wheelchair.
Lower towel racks and a roll-to sink make it much easier to use for an individual with disabilities.
Use a lawn chair in the shower or tub (with plastic webbing and arms) to assist caregiver with the person’s bathing.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin women
A pocket-door is helpful in the bathroom.
Donna P.- Omaha, NE 21 year old son with Cerebral Palsy
A shower seat that folds up against the wall is helpful for a bathroom that is shared with non-disabled person. (see picture “Fold out shower chair”)
Donna P.- Omaha, NE 21 year old son with Cerebral Palsy
Install a fiberglass shower stall that has the grab-bars molded into the wall rather than having to install grab-bars on one’s own.
Donna P.- Omaha, NE 21 year old son with Cerebral Palsy
Install a “governor” (a device that maintains a safe temperature range) onto the plumbing of your sink and shower to mix the hot and cold waters together to prevent injury. This will also help in curtailing injuries to the legs when a person “wheels” up to the sink and touches a too hot pipe.
Tom Q.- Omaha, NE 18 year old woman with Cerebral Palsy
Install a double showerhead unit into the shower to ease the person in self-bathing. Otherwise, use the single showerhead unit but with extension tubing and two holders placed at different heights.
Tom Q.- Omaha, NE 18 year old woman with Cerebral Palsy
This bathroom was built large enough to accommodate movement of a large wheelchair.
Lower towel racks and a roll-to sink make it much easier to use for an individual with disabilities.
A wheelchair friendly bedroom is set up with ample room to maneuver around.
The room is set up so that everything can be accessed from the middle of the room.
The window seat in the rear provides a great place to go when the person wants to take a break from their wheelchair.
Use egg crate foam on top of mattresses to soften the bed and allow for pressure relief.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin woman
Place glow-in-the-dark stars or other objects on the ceiling or walls for nighttime stimulation when the person cannot sleep.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin women
Place pictures or posters on the ceiling of person’s room for visual stimulation while lying in bed.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin women
Add a grab bar inside the closet (i.e. using PVC pipe secured onto two 2×4’s on the door frame) for the person to hold onto while pulling clothes off the hanger. Using PVC pipe will allow the bar to “grow” in height/length as the person grows.
Tom Q.- Omaha, NE 18 year old woman with Cerebral Palsy
Many times those of us who are not in wheelchairs do not recognize the many things we take for granted.
This photo illustrates how special arrangements were made to lower the windows so the person with disabilities could see out of the window, too.
Notice the hand controls (crank) for the window are at the bottom of the window where the person can reach them.
Providing a person with control over their environment is an important aspect of empowerment.
Use egg crate foam on top of mattresses to soften the bed and allow for pressure relief.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin women
Place glow-in-the-dark stars or other objects on the ceiling or walls for nighttime stimulation when the person cannot sleep.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin women
Place or posters on the ceiling of person’s room for visual stimulation while lying in bed.
Penny- Omaha, NE 19 year old multi-handicapped twin women
Add a grab bar inside the closet (i.e. using PVC pipe secured onto two 2×4’s on the door frame) for the person to hold onto while pulling clothes off the hanger. Using PVC pipe will allow the bar to “grow” in height/length as the person grows.
Tom Q.- Omaha, NE 18 year old woman with Cerebral Palsy