How do you design a wheelchair accessible kitchen?
Nowadays, millions of people suffer from some disability. Disable people, including wheelchair users, individuals with mobility impairments, and those with limited strength or physical fitness, often face difficulties using usual home kitchens and kitchenware.
Therefore a safe and comfortable custom-made kitchen is a great necessity. Accessible kitchens are designed in a way to be usable by these people. There are some innovative ways to remodel kitchens so that the disabled can access their kitchens.
Designing wheelchair-accessible kitchens can be challenging. Access from a single point is the best, requiring the cabinets, utensils, and counters to be within reach. The appliances should be placed in a way that won’t be awkward, don’t impede the disabled individual’s movement, and endanger the person.
The height of the kitchen’s countertops should be around 86 cm and sometimes even less. The ideal condition would be height-adjustable countertops. Plus, there must be a space beneath the counter so that the disabled person can reach the counter with a wheelchair. There should be no obstacles on the floors to facilitate their movements and keep them safe.
The entryways should be wide enough so that wheelchairs can pass through them. Handles and doorknobs should not require too much strength to be opened using only one hand. It’s preferred that cabinets have slide doors or no door at all so that people can easily access them. Remember to leave enough space around ovens, refrigerators, cooktops, sinks, or dishwashers to be freely accessible for disabled individuals from the side.
I’ll be happy to share my experience with you. We all know that the core purpose of designing wheelchair accessible kitchen is to remove all obstacles providing easy access to cabinets, appliances, counters, and sinks.
This makes sufficient turning room for a soft transition to connecting areas like the dining area. Luckily, many factories produce wheelchair-accessible cooktops in both electric and gas forms. Nowadays, these cooktops are unique because they are lower for comfortable access. The designers typically install cabinet doors underneath. You may also consider having a motorized cooktop that can be lowered or raised to adjust the person in the wheelchair and other family members.
The wheelchair-accessible sinks are a slightly modified form of standard sinks and are readily available in the market. Usually, a motorized sink is installed to be raised or lowered to accommodate the user. The basin is not deep, and special attention is given to the drain area, which is put in the rear so that the wheelchair can simply roll in underneath. Besides, don’t forget that single lever faucets are compulsory in such sinks. This offers ease to the users for rinsing food. It’s an excellent idea to have sliding drawers on both sides of the sink for effortless storage.
The countertops can only be helpful for a person in a wheelchair if they are at a proper height. The ideal and preferred size is thirty-two inches; that’s what my designer said. Motorizing the countertops and cabinets to raise and lower them is so helpful to be done. No worries, you can easily install a motor behind them without causing any damage.
If there are hallways, make sure there are wide enough for wheelchair use – at least 36 inches wide. Build an open entry instead of doors. If you have doors, then replace the doorknobs with levers. Make sure there’s knee space under sinks and countertops that the person who uses a wheelchair can work at – countertops in those areas will have to be around 30 inches too.
Having a side-by-side fridge in the kitchen helps and enhances accessibility, so a person using a wheelchair can get to the fridge and freezer easier. Make the ground level if you can.
Hardwood floors would be a better idea; carpets can be a problem. Also. No small carpet in the kitchen because it can get caught under wheels.
A barrier-free home needs a custom kitchen for present or possible future wheelchair users. When having the kitchen compatible with a wheelchair, notice some minor but not trivial things. Be sure that wall cabinets are not too high or apply some power system to lower them when needed. Drawers are better than doors and shelves in terms of convenience. Sinks should have room underneath them for wheelchairs. The oven and the microwave are better lowered down than their usual standard. Use a side-by-side refrigerator too.