Every year, more Americans living with disabilities are able to call themselves homeowners. Thanks to support and legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), having a home to call one’s own is now an achievable dream for more people than ever before. For many individuals, purchasing a home is only half the battle, since the nature of someone’s disability can impact many areas of life – including the way he or she accesses, maneuvers through, and enjoys activities at home.
That’s where the option of home modification comes into play. Whether you love the house you’re currently in or have plans to build a home that’s more accommodating to your disability, there are many different home modifications you can choose to implement. If you have stairs in your household but depend on the use of a wheelchair, a beneficial modification might be a chairlift. If a family member is blind, it might be useful to install grab bars in the shower. Or if you have a child with a mental disability, you may be able to better protect him or her from illness or injury by installing locks on cabinet doors that hold harmful chemical cleaners.
While renters have the responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations to tenants with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act, many homeowners with disabilities can’t afford these expenses out-of-pocket. But did you know that there are many different national programs whose mission it is to provide you with a safe, comfortable home by donating grants to those in need? Furthermore, most states also have local programs for easing the financial burden of installing home modifications, or even building a new home that meets the needs of all of its occupants. Read more.