Five feet of space is needed for a wheelchair to turn.
Beverly J. Keil, Extension Educator
Family and Consumer Sciences
Belmont and Guernsey Counties
People who have difficulty with mobility face many everyday challenges. For some, walking may be the problem. For others, steps are a problem. Some may need extra support or a wheelchair, while others may be able to stand and walk but only for a short time.
Five feet of space is needed for a wheelchair to turn.
Your specific mobility needs determine your living and work space requirements and furniture arrangements. For example, a person using a wheelchair needs about 5 feet to turn. Narrows hallways leading into rooms are nearly impossible for these people to maneuver through, as are doorways less than 32 inches wide. People who use crutches and walkers also require extra room for movement.
Installing sliding doors, which move out of the way and require less effort to get around, is one way to improve your living and work spaces. Removing doors on closets and cupboards is another important improvement if you have difficulty maneuvering.
If you are on crutches or use a walker, you are likely to have difficulty carrying items. A sturdy cart may be used to load dishes, appliances, or other tools and may serve as support when walking. If this method does not work, try attaching baskets to the crossbar of your walker or, if you are on crutches, carrying a bag over your shoulder. If you use a wheelchair, a lapboard enables you to transport several articles at one time.
 |  |
| Tongs facilitate reaching for and grasping objects. |
How low can you reach comfortably and still maintain your balance? How high? How far in front and to the sides? Answering these questions will help you determine the best places to store frequently used articles. If you cannot reach the floor, for example, you should store your clothes in the middle and upper drawers of your bureau. Tong-type gadgets, which are available in various lengths and weights, extend your reach. A wooden stick with a magnet on the end enables you to retrieve metal objects without bending.
Following are other tips for reaching and storing items.
If you use a wheelchair, you may find counters in the home to be too high. From a sitting position, most people find a 29- to 31-inch-high counter to be most comfortable. Because many people generally use the same work space, lowering all the counters would be uncomfortable for some workers. You might install one work surface or table of a suitable height for you and use tabletop appliances, such as an electric skillet, in place of the range. Counters or tables with open areas underneath allow you to pull your wheelchair closer and reduce strain on your back and shoulders. If you use crutches or a walker, you may find it convenient to have a high stool handy for sitting while you work. A mirror mounted at the back of the range and tilted to reflect the inside of pans is also helpful.
You will probably find appliances with controls in the front most convenient. This eliminates the need to lean across the range, washer, etc., to set the dials.
Microwave ovens offer many advantages, including a shallow cooking cavity; side opening doors; and a cool interior, which minimizes your chances of burning yourself.
Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers reduce maneuvering around the doors. Water and ice dispensers located within the doors are also helpful.
Self-cleaning ovens eliminate another difficult task.
In the laundry area, front loading equipment is easier to reach from a wheelchair if the equipment is raised on a platform. For those who use walkers or crutches, top-loading appliances may be easier to use. Tongs will help to reach into the top-loading machines if bending or reaching is a problem.
Small changes in how you perform tasks and simple adaptations can make your life easier and increase your independence.
For additional information contact one of the following individuals or organizations.
Your local Ohio State University Extension office
http://extension.osu.edu/counties.php
American Occupational Therapy Association
4720 Montgomery Lane
P. O. Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Phone: (301) 652-2682
Fax: (301) 652-7711
TDD: 1-800-377-8555
www.aota.org
Reviewed by
Joyce A. Smith, Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Clothing
Judy Wessel, Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Emeritus, The Ohio State University
Click here for PDF version of this Fact Sheet.
OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868