Making a Kitchen Handicap Accessible Using Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets

Making a kitchen handicap accessible is an excellent way to empower those in the family with mobility issues. Ready-to-assemble cabinets, while not specifically designed for the handicap accessible kitchen, can be adapted to work with a home owner's accessibility needs. Whether you decide to design and re-do the kitchen yourself, or hire a contractor to do it for you, it is important that you consider all of the factors that will make the kitchen a successful place for the person with mobility issues.

At the Right Height
One of the biggest complaints of those who are in wheelchairs about kitchen designs is that the countertops are too high. The height of the cabinet directly influences how high the countertops are, so select cabinets that are shorter in height. They do not have to be extremely low, but they should be at a height that is easily accessible for the person in a wheelchair. RTA cabinets come in different heights, which make them the ideal type of cabinet for such a kitchen remodel.

Cabinet Hardware
It may be that the person who use the kitchen has hand mobility issues as well. This is not uncommon and there are easy adaptations that can be made to the kitchen cabinets. The main adjustment comes in the style of cabinet hardware that is chosen. Most ready-to-assemble cabinets do not come with hardware pre-attached, so the homeowner has the flexibility of selected handles and knobs that can be easily grabbed and manipulated by the person with a disability. By selecting the right type of knobs and pulls, the cabinets become instantly accessible.

Space is Essential
In addition to thinking about the height and accessibility of the cabinets, it is also important to consider the amount of space in the kitchen. Wheelchairs need a significant amount of space to allow for ample room to turn around and fully open cabinet doors. You may need to enlarge the kitchen if it is currently too small to accommodate such needs. A good kitchen designer can help you map out the area so that everyone's needs are met.

Pull-Out Drawers and Ledges
Many handicap accessible kitchens feature pull out drawers that are easy to reach and open. Some even come with a solid drawer covering that can be pulled over the open part of the drawer and serve as a cutting board or writing spot for the person in a wheelchair. Check into the available kitchen accommodations when designing your new space to make sure that you have the latest and greatest gadgets that will make the kitchen more accessible.

When you transform a kitchen that was previously inaccessible into a space where a wheelchair can easily go, you validate a life. It is a clear way to tell the person in the wheelchair that you recognize that he or she is still capable of daily tasks. It may not seem that kitchen cabinets would play such an important role, but creating a handicap accessible kitchen is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

Staff writer for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, Jessica Ackerman has extensive design experience, using decorative door toppers and metal wall grille.