SCI Forum Reports
Home Modification For Persons With Disabilities
May 5, 1998
When it comes to improving accessibility in the home, there are often low cost alternatives to remodeling, said Duane Bishop, whose company, Bishop Enterprises, carries a variety of products designed to solve specific access problems in commercial and residential properties. A relatively simple but specialized piece of hardware is sometimes all that is needed to make a desired modification, Bishop said. He related a story about a woman who paid $700 to have her door widened to accommodate her wheelchair "when all she needed were swing-clear hinges costing about $70 installed." These hinges swing the door edge away from the frame, widening any doorway by one and one-half inches.
Bishop showed other specialized products, such as several grab bars and poles that can provide a firm grip for people with limited grasp. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, including a non-freezing material popular in Alaska.
"Maybe you have one and one-half inches (caused by a raised threshold) that's keeping you from getting into your garage," Bishop said. A flexible "portable ramp" costing $120 can solve this problem at a far lower cost than changing the doorway, and you can pick it up and use it anywhere in the house. Recessing a toilet tank into the wall is a lower-cost alternative to enlarging a bathroom in order to accommodate a wheelchair, he said. "There are lots of ideas and resources out there you may not know about but we can tell you about."
Joe Lewis' company, RampArts, makes prefabricated modular ramps that can be assembled to fit any home and property configuration. Modular ramps are much less expensive than site-built or custom ramps and can be installed in 24 hours, Lewis said. Although they are a durable alternative to permanent ramps, they can be disassembled easily, and Lewis will buy his modular ramps back at a reduced rate.
"Avoid the temptation to have your brother-in-law slap some wood down on the stairs," Lewis warned. Ramps must be made of non-slip material and have a guard rail, a specific slope, and a minimum load-bearing capacity. "Building codes will tell you what is a safe and legal ramp, and anything that doesn't meet code probably isn't safe," he said.
Lewis recommended that people get advice from specialized builders about alternatives to costly remodels or installation of lifts or elevators. "They all have hidden costs," he said. "Look at the face value of the products as well as the remodeling costs." An indoor elevator may carry a price tag of $15,000, but the remodeling necessary to install it can increase the cost to $35,000, and a porch lift, elevator, or permanent ramp can compromise a home's resale value. In some cases, creative landscaping can be an effective, less costly, and more aesthetically pleasing alternative to a ramp, Lewis said.
Once you know what changes you want to make to your home, you'll need to find a way to finance the project, said Connie Hollerith of Hallmark Mortgage. Hollerith, who is the co-chair of the NWRSCIS Consumer Advisory Board, discussed the FHA 203(k) loan, which can be used to improve or rehabilitate an existing dwelling. The biggest difference between a 203(k) and a conventional loan is the amount of equity required to obtain the loan, said Hollerith. "203(k) loans can go up to 97% of the after-improved value, and they have an interest rate that is reasonable," she said. The mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property after rehabilitation, so you can buy a house and be given the funds to improve it all in one loan. The 203(k) requires only a minimum down payment . There is no up-front mortgage insurance requirement, and the loan can be used for purchase or refinance. In order to find out whether you are eligible for this "rehab loan," you need to talk to a mortgage broker who is approved to do FHA 203(k) loans.