kitchens, are they accessible?

Did you know, most public spaces in America are unforgiving when it comes to someone in a wheelchair? Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of rules and regulations set forth to make sure all shapes and sizes can access a countertop, bathroom sink, toilet etc. But truly, have you ever asked someone in a wheelchair if they feel welcome to move freely in public spaces? After meeting Gail, I don’t feel that question would be answered with a yes...

At just 15 years old, Gail endured a tragic gymnastics accident that ended leaving her a quadriplegic. At the time, her parents were told that she may not live past 25... Gail, now 66, has never let her condition define her.

Gail came to us with a vision to create a more forgiving kitchen. Allowing her to easily navigate her space with all the fun gadgets and gizmos to make her kitchen more accessible for her and her condition. A few key items in this renovation were 9" toe kicks, roll in access under the sink, lower counter tops, no cabinet handles and of course a feeding station for service dog, Roger.

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. This act has certain guidelines set forth when it comes to kitchens.

This guideline requests a 9" toe kick be provided. A 9" toe kick gives someone in a wheelchair the space needed for the foot supports to roll under the cabinets. A standard toe kick (roughly 4") doesn’t allow for that, causing the person to bump into the bottoms of the cabinets and not being able to get close to the countertop edge.

The second request was roll in access under the kitchen sink. This would allow Gail to roll right under her sink giving her full access to use the faucet and wash dishes at a closer distance. Considering she did not want cabinet handles; we needed an easier way for her to open her cabinet doors and drawers. With a little research we found the perfect option of push to open hinges and drawer slides. This allows Gail to push the door or drawer front and the door/drawer will pop open.

Lastly, we can’t forget about service dog Roger! Gail was struggling with filling his water and food dishes and wanting something to make that task easier. With the same style push to open drawer slides, we created an elevated feeding station for Roger, with his food right next to it in a drawer allowing Gail to transfer food to his bowl much easier.

After working with Gail and hearing what she wanted, we created a rough draft rendering to help her visualize the kitchen she was wanting.

Gail selected all the colors and finishes herself. Growing up on farms, Gail has always had a taste for the country. She wanted a rustic hickory cabinetry with a clear finish adding the final touch of her favorite color for the backsplash. Watch here to see her renovation come to life.

For more information about items used in this renovation, please reach out to us!