Written by: Andraéa LaVant
The old saying says, “home is where the heart is.” I couldn’t agree more, as no matter what’s
going on in the world, having a home that feels cozy and meets my needs brings me such
peace. That said, as a power wheelchair user, if my home doesn’t feel accessible to me –
meaning I can’t maneuver around and enjoy every feature of it – it can cause deep frustration
and/or disappointment.
As part of a recent move, my wife and I put considerable thought into making our new place as
accessible as possible so that I could maintain my freedom. Here are 3 features we
incorporated to make our home more accessible:
- Electric blinds – I’m embarrassed to admit how many times my wheels have gotten
caught in the cords of blinds. Plus, pulling them down can be hard for those with
dexterity needs. In our new place, we had electric blinds installed and it has been a
game changer! Being able to control the blinds with a remote control and a smart home
device has proven a great addition because I can lower and raise the blinds without
assistance. This is perfect when I’m in virtual meetings and need to adjust the lighting
and when I want to open/close the blinds based on the time of day. - Smart plugs for voice activated devices – While the blinds can be controlled by voice
with a smart home device like Amazon’s Alexa, it’s nice to be able to control more than
just the blinds with your voice. Smart plugs are a great way to do that with ease. We
installed smart plugs throughout our home, so now we can control everything from the
bedroom tv to the living room lamp with the sound of our voices! - Motion sensor devices – The evolution of motion sensor home devices has been one of
my very favorite technological advancements in recent years. Much like most other
devices we use for accessibility, these are helpful for far more people than just disabled
folks. Having a motion sensor trash can has been helpful in preserving energy and even
prevents us from making accidental messes trying to open the trash can while
simultaneously holding trash.
These are just a few of my faves that support my in-home accessibility. What are yours?