by Anais Durand

People with disabilities deserve to be given the chance to live independently, which is why adapted housing plays a huge part in daily life. John Logan has been a Blackwood tenant for the past four years, so he is an expert regarding housing, home adaptations and the way innovations make a real difference in the lives of people with reduced mobility.

John accompanied the Blackwood Foundation team to the Naidex conference last April, and is eager to recollect the innovations that made an impression on him. “Overall Naidex was a very good experience” he tells me with enthusiasm, a statement which echoes the general opinion of the Blackwood Foundation team. The one innovation that specifically struck John was the OwnFone, a customised phone that only displays a selection of names or images, making it easier for children, seniors, and disabled people to stay in touch with their family and/or carers and reach the emergency services when required. Take a look at our article featuring the OwnFone here. 

Another display that caught John’s eye was the range of Etac wheelchairs which offer the possibility to put the user of the powered chair into a full upright standing position. Find out more about the Etac wheelchairs by reading the article here. Regarding the setup of the Naidex exhibition, John was amazed at the sheer size of the exhibiting premises. The fact that there were covered areas surrounding the parking spaces by the front door made a very good impression on him, as he points out that “as a wheelchair user, I need a bit more time to get out of the car.” The only complaint John has to make about the display of the Naidex exhibition is that the aisles were slightly too small considering the number of attendees with reduced mobility and the amount of wheelchair users that were present. Overall, John had an extremely positive experience at Naidex, and is even thinking of going next year.

The other topic that John is particularly eager to discuss is his life as a Blackwood tenant and how it has allowed him to maintain his independence. His Blackwood residence is situated in a complex of seventeen semi-detached cottages, and features an additional garage as well as a shared community garden. He has been living in his Blackwood home for four years. Discussing the display of his house, he insists on the importance of manoeuvrability and accessibility: the corridors are wide and well-fitted for wheelchairs users, which makes it easy to turn around and get through doors. Equipment wise, John uses the ENIGMA electric wheelchair, which offers wider room and fits in the back of the car. John also has a scooter, the COLT, a basic model which he prefers to the wheelchair although it is slightly heavy.

His kitchen, which is partitioned off, is made up of multilevel surfaces that are easily accessible. The other feature that John is eager to tell me about is the electrical plugs, which allow easy access as they are displayed slightly higher than average. There is a deep sense of community within the Blackwood homes that echo through John’s words. In case of an emergency, it is easy for him to access the neighbours or contact the council. The shared aspect of the community gardens promotes social inclusion and prevents isolation. When I ask John whether there is any alteration that could be carried out in order to make his life easier, the only addition he can think of is of a camera door entry system, which would mean that tenants would not need to go to the door every time someone rings the bell. We published a couple of articles concerning smart door entry systems, check out the Doorbot article and the feature about Chui, the hub user interface system. John concludes by asserting that in terms of adapted housing, progress knows no bounds, and adds that the innovators of tomorrow should remember to involve the disabled home owner in the decision-making process.

What about you? Are you currently living or have you lived in an adapted home? If you have any comments regarding house adaptations that have changed your life, please share them below!

To find out more about John’s equipment, click here to go to the ENIGMA wheelchairs website, and here for the COLT range of scooters.