Re: Making a home wheelchair accessible

[Guest guest]

I think it would be cheaper to move into another house and rent it for a few

years. In California anything built after 1982 has the larger halls and

doorways. It might be the same in other states in the USA.

[Guest guest]

Hi Rob,

In reply to your question of the cost and as a owner of a renovation business, I

will try to put in perspective of what your up against. Widening of doorways is

somewhat of a job and you will pay more in labor than material, so get several

estimates.

Check at your local hardware store for reliable, respectable contractors That

way, if your not happy with their work, you can complain to the hardware store

not to refer them again. Sorry, I got away from the point there.

You might want to think about adding ramps in doorways and outside your home.

Just a thought. To get financial assistance, check out any local funds

assistance. Government funds, I don't know of any. I'm sure somebody else in the

group will be able to help out there. If you'd like, you can email me personally

and I can give you somewhat of an idea of a cost. Good Luck. ~DEBI~

Debbie

[Guest guest]

Rob,

One source of funding you may want to look into is http://www.mdff.org/. The

Muscular

Dystrophy Family Foundation claims to:

" Established in 1958, the Foundation has only one mission; to provide adaptive

equipment

and emotional support to individuals and families affected by one of over forty

neuromuscular diseases covered under our program.

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation® conducts no research. Believing

research is

important; we believe it is equally as important to live an independent and

productive life

each day by having the proper equipment and emotional support available.

Some of the adaptive equipment provided by MDFF are wheelchairs, hospital beds,

van

lifts, ramps for family homes, shower chairs, bath chairs, lift systems,

breathing machines,

clinic services, communication devices, braces and social outings. Support is

available 24/

7.

The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation® provides service to children and

adults

regardless of race, or income level. (All available resources must be utilized

prior to

contacting the foundation and a completed financial aid request and proof of

diagnosis is

required).

Working with vendors, insurance companies, government agencies and other

agencies

from coast to coast, we provide services on a national level. Our staff of six

dedicated

individuals operates from one office in Indianapolis, Indiana and believes there

should be

No Boundaries® for anyone with a disability. "

~Another source for you may be your state vocation rehab office if you are

working and

need some modifactions to your house such as a ramp to get in and out to get to

work or

modifications inside the house if you work from home.

Good luck with it!

~

[Guest guest]

Rob,

In the Dallas-Ft.Worth area you may want to give Lift Aids, Inc. (Metro

817-835-0035) a call. They do home modifications, stairway lifts, porch

lifts, automobile lifts, full size and mini van conversions, hand controls,

ramps, etc. Also in Garland, TX off of I-30 just past Mesquite, a company

called -Way Associates (972-263-4300) does the same thing. I have

personal knowledge of this company as I've assisted several of my patients

in utilizing this company for their mobility needs. The construction office

is in a different location, but they would be able to give you the number.

Hope this helps!

Blair

[Guest guest]

Rob,

I`ve used an electric chair for nearly 10 years now. Before I got

it I got the input of a good occupational therapist. We found the

doors did not need to be widened as the electric chair did not need

the extra width that a manual chair needs. The front door did need

to be ramped.

The OT suggested that I not make the entire house wheelchair

friendly and try to use the chair for outdoor use and continue to

use AFOs braces and sticks etc. at home to see how I would get on as

she said she had seen so many people start using a chair and staying

in it all the time to the point that it actually caused more

weakness. I went along with this and I found it has worked out

great, I use the chair outside all the time and never in the house.

Because I`m not using any muscle power when I`m out of the house I

have enough to use when I`m home.

My house is on the one level so to make it fully accessible would

not be a big problem and with CMT you rarely have to make changes in

a hurry.

Joyce in Ireland.

[Guest guest]

HURRAH, JOYCE! ~DEBI~