Is your man cave wheelchair accessible?
It’s Father’s Day weekend, and if there’s one area of the home that is traditionally Dad’s domain, it’s the garage. The Man Cave! What makes a man cave wheelchair accessible?
Marc Schmidt, customer and recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star in 1968, has been using adaptive equipment for almost 50 years. I’d rate him an expert on adaptive equipment. Schmidt remodeled his garage entry to the house a few years ago and let us snap some pictures. He created a platform that was the correct height so that when his wheelchair van ramp deployed, he could exit using the van’s ramp through a small automatic overhead door installed between the garage and laundry room.
NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) posted a recent story on three tips for creating an accessible garage.
- Install a garage entry/interior door ramp that is both safe and provides quick car access.
- Entry door to the house needs to be a minimum of 32 inches wide.
- Make sure the floor surface of the garage makes for easy loading/unloading.
We recently remodeled our master bathroom. Even though neither my husband or I use a wheelchair, we aren’t getting any younger. Our remodeled bathroom included universal design features – no barrier shower entry, taller toilet, wider entry, hand-held shower wand, and structural support for installation of a grab bar.
When my husband gets ready to create his man cave, I (ok, he) wants to make sure that the design he chooses includes features that make it possible for us to use that space now, and in a future that might include a wheelchair.
I’d be interested in your ideas on a garage that’s wheelchair accessible! Send to rlinnens@kansastruck.net.
