Televison is a great source!

Thanks to Joceyln's comment, I decided to search television shows that feature home renovation. I found this one by Mike Holmes where he makes an apartment wheel chair accessible.

Abstract Draft

Here is a start to my abstract, not quite done but on it's way.

Almost every day, someone becomes disabled. It is a life changing event that requires modifications to a lifestyle, including how to function around the home. Being put in a wheelchair is one of the largest changes of lifestyle one can face. This requires major renovations to the home including adding ramps, widening doorways, and bathroom modifications. A question that arises is,

"How do you renovate a home to become wheelchair accessible?"

When one is placed in a wheelchair, mobility becomes one of the biggest issues. From getting out of bed in the morning, to making breakfast, to using the bathroom fixtures and entering and exiting the house becomes more difficult.

The research will use an existing house in t he downtown Kamloops area that will potentially one day become wheelchair accessible,a nd plan the renovations from initial layout, to becoming certified accessible. The research will be conducted using Canadian guidelines from CMHC, the BC Building Code, academic resources and consulting withthe home owner and potentially future occupant to discuss structure changes, equipment purchases and site modifications. Costs and time estimates throughout the projects will be predicted as to which solution is best for the home owner. The challenge to this research will be to transform the home so bothe the disabled and fully mobile persons function cohesivly as welll as productivley.


Any suggestion is a good suggestion!

Interior Images

Here are some interior pictures of the home soon to be renovated. The image of the bathroom and den will hopefully become one large bathroom. And ideas or comments will be greatly appreciated!

Renovations cost money, but who has money?

Renovations cost money, lots of money, and not all disabled people are able to work. So how do they afford to renovate their homes to become livable?

I found this on the Service Canada site where they offer the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program through the CMHC.

For someone living in Southern Canada, which would be Kamloops, you are able to receive up to $16,000. This is not a lot for renovations, but it definitely helps!

If anyone has heard of anyother funding or grants avaliable, then please let me know where I can find this information.

Example of what is NOT accessible

This is an example of a house that is NOT accessible, yet very interesting!
This is a house built on an entire Island in Narragansett Bay just off of Rhode Island.

http://www.househomedesign.com/beach-house-design/clingstone-mansion-by-boston-architect-henry-wood

They have renovated the house with solar panels and created a system using the rain water for all their water needs. Check it out!

Renovation guidelines.

I found some good information about renovating a home to become accessible on the CMHC website! They allow you to view renovation ideas and guidelines depending on what room in your home needs work.

If you want to view the information, here is some on renovating a kitchen.

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_029.cfm

You can also navigate throught the website to view other renovation details in other rooms of the home.

To get a better idea of my intentions, here is the first proposal I have written for the project.


I currently have a friend who is in a relationship with a disabled man. He is in a wheel chair and has been for the last nine years. Like anyone, she is thinking of the future and is currently looking at her home and wondering if it is possible to make it wheel chair accessible. She currently lives in downtown area of Kamloops in an older home with a sloped front yard. The question raised is:

What does it take for an older home to become wheelchair accessible?

• What modifications in the structure of her home need to take place?
• What would she need to do not only to her house, but also to the site surrounding and how much would it cost.
• What are the main concerns when renovating an older home?
• How easy is it to purchase the equipment need, such as lifts and special plumbing fixtures?
• How is accessibility classified in a residential home?
• Do by-laws allow for a lift in the front of a home? And if so, what are the restrictions that apply?
• Can a disabled person and a able-bodied person live comfortably in the same home?

To conduct my research I plan on first getting the qualifications and restriction on accessible homes. Also, discussing on how to make the home comfortable and easy to maneuver with people who are currently disabled. I plan on talking with carpenters and homebuilders who have experience with building these types of homes. Also researching through construction books and journals to find the process that works best through cost and function.
By conducting this research, I hope to make my conclusions knowledgeable to people who don’t know what steps to take when creating and accessible home. I hope this new information will aid myself to help others modify their home to their specific needs. This research will enhance my knowledge of wood frame houses, disability services and needs and what construction regulations are certified accessible. It will also take me through the process of how a renovation is conducted and the amount of time and planning needed. I hope to complete the plan entirely with multiple drawings, equipment needed, and cost and time estimates for my friend to start renovations so her and her boyfriend can live comfortably together.

Hi, Welcome to my blog!

Currently, I am researching how to renovate an older home to become wheel chair accessible. I am looking for ways to renovate the home without completely tearing it apart. Attached is the current house plan. It is a one floor home with three bedrooms and one bathroom. The owner wants to put in a front porch which means a ramp will have to be installed from the sidewalk and lead to a lift at the side of the front porch. She would also like to add an exterior door to the back of her house. I am also looking for retailers that sell equipment needed to create and accessible home. Any ideas, comments or questions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

-emily