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home design for blind child

bobtim | Posted in General Discussion on November 27, 2003 03:00am

A very good friend called me to talk about a home he is building for his brother and his 7 year old newly blind child.  He asked what I knew about ADA bathrooms etc. I had never really thought about handicap accesibilty except in terms of ramps and wheelchair turning radius and things of that sort. Don’t really know what it would take to make a blind person safe and comfortable in their home.

I told him I would check with some state goverment type folks and get their recommendations but I would also like to get  ideas from people who have been thru something like this in the past.

Here are the specifics:

Located in a remote small town in Alaska,   Very expensive materials and not a great selection.  Everything has to be flown in this time of year.  Fairly small budget for the house-no bells or whistles.

3 bedroom , 1 bath, house is dried in. All framing done , ready for plumb and electric install.

 

The only thing I could think of to add at this stage was lots of  blocking for handrails thru out the home.  My wife thought that rounded corners  made a lot of sense.  

what do you think

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  1. nwilhelm1 | Nov 27, 2003 03:30pm | #1

    Sorry to hear about your friends tragedy. Only experience I have to draw from is construction of commercial ACLF buildings in the southeast.

    All common hallways within these facilities did have handrails with the blocking you mentioned installed prior to gypboard. All bathrooms were equipped per ADA with appropriate plumbing fixtures, etc. As you mentioned the child is now blind but not, hopefully, a para or quad. This being said, the turning radii, door width, counter top height, etc. should not be a problem. If the child has partial or impaired vision plumbing fixtures are produced with the blue and red dots ( and I mean dots ) that may be of some help. Additionally, the childs parents mey want to consider placing an insulating blanket over the hot water lines, under sinks in the house.

    A much better source, even in Alaska, might be their county health department, or the states department of health and welfare. Since this will be a private residence it is my belief that ADA does not apply as the structure is not intended for use by general public.

    With Best Regards,

    Neil Wilhelm

  2. Ruby | Nov 27, 2003 03:36pm | #2

    Have you tried to e-mail the Association for the Blind?

    They may have some literature they may send to you about it or know who has it and can help you.

  3. User avater
    CloudHidden | Nov 27, 2003 03:55pm | #3

    I'd designwalls, where I could, so that furniture recessed. For example, as you come into a bedroom and walk along a wall, you don't want to run into a dressed. So have the wall notched back so that the front of the dresser is flush with the wall.

    I'd do the same with toilet and sink. In essence you're providing physical clues that something is there, and clues that are easier than walking into various sized objects.

    I also might include a lot of chair rail. Blindness doesn't need the same aids as other disabilities, such as grab bars. I can imagine being in a home and not using a cane all the time. So allow her to run her hand along a nice chair rail--it's save the walls from hand prints, it'll keep the house looking more conventional than with grab bars, and she'll easily feel the changes in direction such as at recesses mentioned above.

    I'd use a knob on kitchen cabinets that could differentiate contents by feel, or allow the attachment of braille id tags, or just put a pressure-sensitive braille tag on drawers and cabinets, ala the ones on ATM's.

    I'd avoid too open of a floor plan. Open space would eventually get junk put there and become a tripping hazard.

    I'd try to include window seats and other "safe" areas that could be easily located and used. While the light from the window wouldn't matter to the girl, of course, perhaps sitting in the warmth of the sun reading a book in braille or listening to her mp3 player would be a pleasant time.

    I'd make sure that all kitchen cabinets terminated at a side wall. Again, don't want corners to run into.

    While I wouldn't want an open floor plan, I also wouldn't want many doors (except where privacy is required, of course). That way she could continue from room to room along the chair rail without having to stop and work through or around a door.

    I'd pay careful attention to flooring to make sure there were no obvious changes in height. I think it'd be easy to get tripped up by a threshold.

    1. Ruby | Nov 27, 2003 04:11pm | #4

      Excellent ideas.

      Remember that a blind person in it's own house can run around without bumping into things if they are always in their place.

      They make a mental picture that is automatic, don't need to count steps or go along walls to know where they are.

      I can go along my whole house in the absolute dark without bumping into anything and can see fine when there is light.

      If the kid is a toddler or very young, that would be another concern.

      I like the idea of recessed furniture and sinks. Makes sense.

      1. User avater
        CloudHidden | Nov 27, 2003 04:56pm | #5

        >Remember that a blind person in it's own house can run around without bumping into things if they are always in their place.

        Sure, but in a family, not everyone else will keep everything so structured necessarily. Appropriate design would help that along by making it convenient for all other family members to keep things where they are out of the path of travel, whether is junk, or an ottoman that's moved 12", or a door that's left half open.

        1. dIrishInMe | Nov 27, 2003 09:02pm | #6

          When I was preparing to build an accessible house I went to the town library.  Found several books, one or 2 were excellent.  If I remember correctly, they covered stuff for sight impaired people too.   Also see if they have or can get you this book:  I haven't seen it, but it looks like it would help:

          http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0117019933/qid=1069952254/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-2382355-5508933?v=glance&s=books

          Or maybe this one:

          http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891288511/ref=nosim/growinglifestyle/102-2382355-5508933?dev-t=D1Y109MDH68LKO%26camp=2025%26link_code=xm2

            Here is some things I found on the web:

          The Center for Universal Design,  North Carolina State University, is a national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design features in buildings and related products. One of its recent projects is termed Housing Accessibility for Individuals with Visual Impairment or Blindness 

          Duncan, John, and others. Environmental modifications for the visually impaired: a handbook. Journal of visual impairment and blindness, v. 71, Dec. 1977: 442-455. Standards, comments, and suggestions for interior design, such as lighting, color, signage, and alarm systems and for exterior design. Matt

          1. bobtim | Nov 27, 2003 10:34pm | #7

            Thanks to everyone for some great ideas. I will pass everything on to my buddy.

            tim

          2. Pierre1 | Nov 27, 2003 11:21pm | #9

            I agree with the rounded corners suggestion. I'd also round off the edges of cabinets, even door edges on the latch side. Doors should be adjusted so they do not remain half-open of their own accord. Ouch. Pocket doors maybe? Get rid of dangerous furniture, stuff with sharp corners or edges. Is there any glass in that house that should perhaps be replaced with tempered or safety glass? What about things to get entangled into - like blind or curtain pull cords, loose/slippery carpets, or extension cords - could these be a hazard to a young child? Staircases: do they meet code? Install handrails on each side of staircase. In child's closet, lower clothesrod so that child can reach and feel/select her clothes = more autonomy. Make sure to fireproof the child, so that she knows how to get out of the house on her own/call 911, if she needs to. Have a fire evac plan for the family, and practice it.

  4. User avater
    CapnMac | Nov 27, 2003 11:18pm | #8

    An item I'd likely consider would be a moulding along the top of the baseboard; with an ulterior motive.  I'd use a quarter-round in most places, for example, but put a cove near exits.  Alternately, I'd route the face of the baseborad distinctly, and with some directional details, too.  Why?  In a word (or two):  Exit Path.  Having a definitive clue about where to go in an emergency is a good idea for all.

    Similarly, a chair rail in the house can also provide clues about what is in the house.  The chaire rail could have accents added to "note" items, like steps, or built ins, or the like.

    Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

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