Accessibility

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“The house was a one-story home that was mostly accessible already,” Nelson said. “It didn’t have thresholds or carpet and had an open floor plan, sizable rooms and doorways. The pantry with low shelves made it easy for my daughter to grab snacks. We modified the bathroom by removing the tub and replacing it with a roll-in shower.”

She received funding through the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities for the bathroom modification, which she guesses cost around $15,000, although the division paid for it directly.

Individuals who rent may need to pay more attention to accessibility because it is unlikely they will be able to make permanent modifications.

According to the Fair Housing Act, which protects both renters and buyers in the housing market, it is “unlawful to refuse to make reasonable accommodations to rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to

Paint

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Says Glass: “Remove all dirt, grease, oil, salt or chemical contaminants by washing the surface with a commercial detergent” or another suitable cleaner like good old dish soap. Then thoroughly rinse with water and let the piece completely dry.

5. Sand it

Next, grab your sanding tools. Whether spray-painting something wood, metal or plastic, if you don’t sand first, experts say you risk your new paint color quickly chipping off.

On a piece of wood furniture, any old lacquer, stain or paint has to come off. For that kind of heavy sanding and stripping, says Glass, “you need coarse sandpaper measuring 40 to 60 grit.” Farooq says sanding blocks are easier to use for a project that requires extensive sanding, or afford people with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling and public and common use areas.”

Under the Fair Housing Act, renters generally need approval from the landlord, must pay for modifications and return the residence to its original design, said Glen H. Parker, a disability rights lawyer in New York. Some states and cities provide more rights to renters, requiring landlords to pay for modifications, he said.

The least permanent option and fastest way to make a house accessible from the outside is to add an aluminum ramp. An aluminum ramp is portable and can often be put in place in one day. “Ramp cost is based on length,” said Frank, owner of Back Home Safely. “For every inch of rise in the steps, you need about one foot of ramp. Three eight-inch steps would require the ramp to be 24 feet long and a foot of ramp costs around $150 so, to purchase a ramp to cover a three-step entrance would be around $3,600. Rentals are also available.”

Ellen Ladau and her daughter, Emily are both power wheelchair users in Suffolk

County, New York. Ladau modified their bathroom by adding a roll-in shower and sink. She was able to get funding through Medicaid to pay for it, but the first modification didn’t work out because the wheelchair turning radius wasn’t wide enough.

“Finding the right person to do the evaluation matters,” said Ed Myers, associate professor of occupational therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. “Ask the right questions and make sure the evaluator looks at the whole person, the family and what activities are important in their daily lives.”

One modification to a home might not be sufficient for most people with disabilities. Ladau ended up modifying their bathroom a second time. Now, she’s slowly making adjustments to the kitchen to make it more functional. For example, she moved her dishes and bowls to a lower cabinet, so it was easier to empty the dishwasher.

“It’s not an overnight fix,” Ladau said. “The needs of a person can evolve and change over time. The modifications that you make at a certain juncture might not work as you age.”

Universal designs

In the future, universal design, or homes built from the ground up with open floor plans, no-step entry and that are barrier-free, can allow for any and all individuals, regardless of ability, to enjoy the amenities of a home.

But aside from simple designs, cost is also a factor that Micaela Connery, a co-founder and CEO of The Kelsey, a nonprofit based in the Bay Area, is concerned about. The Kelsey works with housing developers all over the country to create accessible homes. for getting into smaller spaces (such as between the gaps on a ladder-back chair).

These developers are either proactively looking to include designs that consider the disabled within the populations they are serving, or they’re working in places where accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities is incentivized or required. Income restrictions for the housing might apply.

“We want to design better housing for all people by focusing on affordability, accessibility and inclusivity,” Connery said. Their designs, which typically include communities of 100 or more housing units, not only are accessible and affordable, but are often near public transit. This gives wheelchair users and other people with disabilities easy access to public transportation allowing them to work, enjoy communities and be closer to family, friends and other necessary resources.

To sand metal items, Conley recommends using a wire brush. She takes one to her outdoor fire pit every year, scraping off any old flakes of paint and rust, before applying its annual coat of new paint. She advises getting rid of as much of the rust as possible, otherwise it could show through. A good primer application will help prevent this, too, Conley notes.

Sanding is also important when painting plastic or glass, but for a different reason.

Instead of sanding to create a smooth surface, you’ll want to sand to scuff up these items so the paint has something to grab on to. “Start with a 120-grit for light removal, and finish with a 220-grit for increased smoothness,” Koo says.

Finally, go over your piece — no matter what it’s made of — with a tack cloth, a special type of cloth treated with a tacky material (hence the name) that will help remove any remaining particles left behind from sanding.

6. Prime it

Priming is nonnegotiable, especially if your sanding job was lackluster, to ensure the longevity of the paint. For rusty metal items, Conley and Glass both advise priming with RustOleum brand primer so the old rust doesn’t peek through. Stain-blocking primers, such as one made by Zinsser, says Fiorilli, are great for covering up other imperfections, such as dark knots in a wood surface. You’ll want to apply a thin, even coat. Glass suggests starting by vigorously shaking the can of primer for “one minute after the mixing ball begins to rattle.” Then, “Hold the can upright 10 to 16 inches from the surface and spray in a steady back-and forth motion, slightly overlapping each stroke.”

The primer must be totally dry before moving on to painting. “The primer is going to appear like it dried right away, but give it an hour,” Farooq says.

Once you’re sure it’s dry, lightly sand the primed surface. Glass recommends using “a super fine sandpaper with 360 to 600 grit.” In a pinch, Farooq says you can also gently sand with a brown paper bag.

7. Spray-paint it

Before spray-painting your piece, Fiorilli suggests “spraying onto a scrap piece of cardboard or paper to get a feel for how the can sprays.”

Once you have the hang of it, apply a thin, even coat of your paint, employing the same back-and-forth motion that you used with the primer. Koo reiterates that “thin coats” are the key.

One last bit of advice from Glass: “Keep the can the same distance from the surface during the duration of paint application.” (Applying too much paint to one spot can cause it to build up and more easily chip off later.)

You’ll likely need at least two coats of spray paint for an even finish. Remember to let each coat fully dry before applying the next one.

8. Seal it

Sealing with a spray-on clear coat such as Krylon Acrylic Clear Finish or Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover Spray Paint is particularly important for protecting glass and metal pieces, or anything that is going to be handled a lot.

Simply apply your sealer with the same technique you used for your primer and paint. Sealing, Koo notes, can also be a fix for paint-choice remorse: “If you don’t love the sheen you selected at first, you can always consider applying another clear coat with your desired sheen.” Satin to matte in a snap.

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