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Permalink Reply by flora hay on January 25, 2013 at 16:36

Hi Mark,

We have supported accommodation for wheelchair users and they have very similar to what your suggesting on the walls, it makes a big difference. They use the same floor covering but in contrasting colours for the walls. Another suggestion is a border round the edges of the flooring. You will often see this in hospitals or area's with a lot of human traffic the border acts like a sidewalk to the eye so you tend to keep to the middle. It does work observe human behaviour the next time your visiting someone in hospital most people keep off the border hence the walls stay intact.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Linda Jane McLean on January 27, 2013 at 16:56

Hi, Mark,

I developed my current house around the needs of a severely disabled gentleman. He lived here for five years, but  robust wall finishes were not required, because there was enough room to move  and turn freely between rooms - point to ponder. 

Not everyone has the ability to leave this amount of space - I understand. But working to minimum standards does not work either. We did an Access Audit on Mull in 2004, and all the new build shops were completely inaccessible to a larger wheelchair.

However, the plynyl looks great, and it it cleans up well that is half the battle. 

We didn't have kick plates either, because we had environmental controls, so the house looks perfectly  ordinary.  There is no sign, apart from the ability to open doors and shut curtains at the touch of a button, that a disabled person stayed here. It's a small thing to those of us who are able, but it meant a huge difference in his quality of life, being able to open the curtains in the morning without waking a carer.  Having the ability to control the front door, to take the dog for a walk, or letting a visitor out was by far the greatest asset in our design. It is a great pity that such things are seen as a "luxury", because there is a great deal of empowerment takes place through being able to do these small things yourself.

Think about it:  How would you feel if you were unable to exit your own front door without asking for help?

I knew a previous schoolteacher who was in this position,  although, it was more her inability to turn the key to get back in again that was the problem. So, unless she had someone with her, she could not leave the house.  When she asked for help from the SWD, was merely told that getting out her front door was a "WANT".not a "NEED". Therefore, no action was taken, and society is the poorer for all the years that very talented lady was kept indoors.

The best kick plates I have seen were bright and colorful, and people actually enjoyed them. In red, yellow or blue, they were a wonderful contrast to the light blue of the doors, and, if I recall correctly, people with visual impairments felt it gave them enough contrast to know where the door was.

I don't know if that helps you much. The only other thing that I would add, is that people who use wheelchairs find it difficult to jump through windows in the event of fire. It would be nice if there were either a "place of safety"designed in or a  full length widow, that could become a fire escape if need be.

Hope this has helped,

Linda

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Permalink Reply by Mark Chalmers on January 29, 2013 at 9:09

Linda, Flora: thanks for your replies, we'll have a chat with our client and the potential residents, then hopefully incorporate some of your suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Jane McLean on January 29, 2013 at 18:13

Thanks for getting back, Mark.

The Plynyl looks good - if slightly expensive. But then, you only get what you pay for.

I was going to whizz this past another architect to see what the consensus was.

Linda

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