How to Make Your Home Wheelchair Accessible Without Major Remodeling

If you need to make your home wheelchair accessible without remodeling and on a limited budget, you're in the right place!

 

When a person has a disability that results in limited mobility, living in a wheelchair-accessible home becomes extremely important. However, most apartments and houses in the United States are not built to be accessible for someone who uses a wheelchair or other mobility devices such as a scooter or walker. Doors are often too narrow, bathrooms too cramped, and almost every house or apartment building has at least one step at the entrance. 

 

Many people with disabilities either rent an apartment/house or own older houses that can present significant barriers to accessibility. Although the Fair Housing Act requires most landlords to permit people with disabilities to modify their rental unit for wheelchair accessibility, it is the tenant's responsibility to pay for any renovations — as well as the cost of removing them when they move out.

 

Wheelchair-accessible home remodeling can be very expensive, and this cost falls onto a group of people who are often unable to afford it. Many people with disabilities rely on Social Security disability benefits as their sole or primary source of income, and have additional medical expenses that are not covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Parents of children with disabilities often juggle work, medical appointments, IEP meetings, and caring for their other kids, and have limited time and money to spend on remodeling. 

 

Making your apartment or house wheelchair accessible can help you (or your child) be safe and independent, but how can you do it on a limited budget or without tearing out walls in a rental property? Fortunately, there are many cheap and easy ways to make a home wheelchair accessible without major remodeling.

 

I have lived in many different houses, apartments, and condos with varying degrees of wheelchair access. I have traveled and visited the homes of friends and relatives where accessibility was limited. In the process, I have found many simple tips and tricks for making your home wheelchair accessible that are both low-cost and aesthetically pleasing. Accessibility does not have to be ugly or “medical-looking.” And while affordability is relative, everything I've recommended here is significantly less expensive than the alternatives of tearing out walls and doorways, replacing plumbing, pouring concrete, etc. 

 

I am recommending the items I've listed here because they work for me and other people with disabilities I know and trust. If you have suggestions to add to this guide, please let me know!

 

a room-by-room guide

 

Making Exterior and Interior Doors Wheelchair Accessible

Now that you've made it to the door, you need to get in. This section covers everything you'll need to open and close doors in your home safely and easily if you use a wheelchair or rollator. 

Exterior Door Accessibility

Smart Lock

Many people with disabilities find keys difficult to use due to limited hand strength and dexterity. It's hard to put a key in a lock and turn it while pushing a wheelchair or using a walker or crutches. With a smart lock, you just have to tap your phone or use a voice command to unlock your door.

Smart locks also increase your safety and security if you have personal care assistants, as they log who enters your home and you can easily remove people's access at any time. Some smart locks have an included or optional keypad as well, although I don't recommend using a keypad if you are concerned about security as it's too easy for people to give the code to someone else.

Smart Garage Door Opener

If your home has an attached garage, I recommend a smart garage door opener as an easy way to get in and out on a daily basis. This is especially helpful if you have chosen to install your wheelchair ramp in the garage.

Automatic Door Opener

Automatic door openers are expensive. I keep hoping they will get cheaper as automation technology goes mainstream, but unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet. 

Interior Door Accessibility

Older homes often have narrow doors. You might assume you'll need to tear into the walls to widen the doors enough to accommodate a wheelchair, but fortunately, there are easy and affordable alternatives.

Offset Door Hinges

If your older home is like mine, you probably have 30-inch wide interior doors, but with regular hinges, the actual usable opening is only about 28 inches due to the thickness of the door. That's about the same width as my Permobil power wheelchair, so I would be scraping the door and frame every time I entered and exited a room. Offset or swing-clear hinges shift the door completely past the opening, giving about two additional inches of clearance. I use offset hinges in my home and it saved thousands of dollars compared to widening doors.

Barn Doors

Barn doors have become trendy lately, and many wheelchair users have discovered that they also work great for accessibility. They’re easier to slide open and closed without bending or reaching, and don’t require much arm strength. If you install a barn door, you can also remove the molding around the door frame, giving you a few more inches of clearance for your wheelchair.

I installed three barn doors in my house for less than $200 each. I purchased a couple of barn door kits from Amazon like the ones I recommended below, then went to my local Habitat for Humanity Restore and bought beautiful old doors that enhance the appearance of my home for a low price. Then I paid a handyman to repaint them and install them using the kits.

Lever Door Handles

The wave style and hook style levers are often easiest to operate for people with limited hand dexterity due to cerebral palsy, paralysis, arthritis, and other conditions. Door levers are cheaper when purchased in bulk, so if you can afford to, I recommend replacing all your doorknobs at once.

If you cannot replace a particular doorknob, you can use a lever adapter that attaches to the knob. I don't generally recommend lever adapters, as they cost at least as much if not more than replacing a knob, and they tend to slip off. But if you have unusual front door hardware or some other situation where replacing a knob isn't feasible, they are an option.

Door Closer

A door closer can solve the problem of trying to shut an inward-facing door without your wheelchair getting in the way. 

Door and Wall Protection to Prevent Wheelchair Damage

If you're making your home wheelchair accessible without remodeling, you may be left with some narrow spaces to navigate. Wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids can be hard on doors and walls even in larger areas. But you can still keep the paint in your home looking nice by protecting surfaces from bumps and scrapes.

Kick Plate

An extra tall door kick plate prevents scratches caused by footrests and wheels.

Wall and Furniture Protection

You can repurpose a banister guard for wall protection in a hallway or cut it to whatever size you need.

Corner Protectors

Protect the edges of your walls from scrapes and chips with paintable corner guards.

How to Make Your Kitchen Wheelchair Accessible If You Can't Remodel

Kitchens can be one of the trickiest areas to make accessible without major remodeling. However, there are some things you can do that will really help.

Sink Accessibility

If your wheelchair can’t roll under the sink, open the cabinet doors and see if there is a piece of wood dividing them in the center. If there isn't, you could simply open the doors when you need to roll under the sink. If there is a divider and you own the home or are allowed to make modifications without approval, you can cut the divider out to give yourself space to roll under. This may be hidden by the doors when they are closed, but if it isn’t, you can remove the doors and add a decorative curtain instead.

Kitchen Sink Faucet

Install a faucet with an integrated hose so you can easily pull it closer to you for washing hands or dishes. I recommend a sensor faucet so you don't need to reach the handle to turn it on and off. Choose a faucet with a sensor and a lever for when you need an uninterrupted stream of water, as levers are much easier to turn than knobs. If you have installed a lever faucet but still have difficulty reaching all the way to the back, keep a small dressing stick by your sink to turn the water on and off.

Dishwasher Accessibility

If you have a dishwasher but struggle to reach the bottom rack, a reacher or a pair of scissors-style kitchen tongs may help you to remove lightweight items such as utensils. 

Countertop Dishwasher

I often see people with disabilities struggling to do dishes by hand and wonder if they know about portable dishwashers. If you live in a rental that doesn’t have a dishwasher, a portable countertop dishwasher will allow you to wash your plates, bowls, and utensils. They are generally too small for big pots and pans, so they don’t solve the problem entirely, but they save a lot of time and energy.

Drawer Dishwasher

If you're able to replace your dishwasher, a drawer-style dishwasher can be placed at any height that is convenient for your needs. 

Wheelchair Accessible Stove Solutions

Stoves are very difficult to make accessible for wheelchair users, especially if you live in an apartment or a rented home. If your cooktop is separate from your oven, you can check to see if opening the doors would allow you to roll under, or if you could modify the cabinetry below as I suggested for the sink. However, if that’s not possible, I suggest not even trying to use the stove and getting yourself a portable cooktop instead.

Portable Induction Cooktop

This is not your grandma's hot plate — these cooktops are fantastic. Induction cooking is revolutionary for people with disabilities because it is safe, easy, and affordable. They only heat the pot or pan, greatly reducing the risk of burning yourself or starting a fire. You can buy a simple one-burner or two-burner induction cooktop and place it on a counter, table, or wherever you can reach. I’ve seen people mount them in a kitchen drawer or under a counter so they can slide out of the way when not needed. If you are able to remodel your kitchen, I highly recommend installing an induction cooktop instead of a regular electric or gas stove because they are so much safer for kids, adults, and seniors, and they’re very easy to use.

Small Appliances

Small appliances and alternative appliances are often easier for people with disabilities to use because they can be placed anywhere you can reach.

Microwave

I’m pretty sure that microwaves are the go-to cooking appliance for many wheelchair users. But sometimes it can be difficult to remove your food without spilling it when it’s hot. If you have a slide-out cutting board in your kitchen, I suggest placing the microwave on the counter right above it so you can use that as a safe place for food while it cools. You can also place your microwave on top of a drawer with an insert to achieve the same result.

If you have poor hand dexterity, an app- or voice-controlled microwave will allow you to cook without pressing buttons.

Convection Ovens, Air Fryers, and Instant Pots

Many wheelchair users are not able to safely use a standard oven. If you’re not able to install a wall oven at the correct height, or that still wouldn’t address your limitations, you can use a countertop convection oven, toaster oven, or air fryer to cook just about anything that would require an oven, albeit in smaller quantities. An instant pot can also be a good substitute for a stove in some cases.

Trash

If you have difficulty opening and closing a trash can, use a touchless sensor can. It's more hygienic, too!

How to Make Your Bathroom (Kind of) Wheelchair Accessible Without Remodeling

Ah, the bathroom. It’s the most important room to make accessible for many wheelchair users, and often the most difficult or expensive to remodel. Due to the severity of my disability, I cannot physically live in a home without an accessible bathroom. However, for people with milder disabilities or for temporary housing, these bathroom hacks can help.

Bathroom Sink Accessibility 

As I described above in the kitchen section, you may be able to open the doors under your sink to get underneath, or remove them and modify the cabinetry.

Bathroom Faucet

I needed to buy a new bathroom faucet couple of years ago and was thrilled to find that you can buy bathroom faucets with integrated hoses as well. You could potentially use this system to wash your hair in the sink, or wash dishes if your bathroom sink is accessible and your kitchen sink is not.

Grab Bars

Grab bars are a must in both the toilet and shower area. They generally need to be installed by someone with basic home repair skills, but there are a few “no drill” options available. Since they provide an essential safety function, if you're renting, you may not have to pay to have them removed when you move out. Today, there are many attractive grab bars to choose from that will fit your home's aesthetic. 

Toilet Accessibility

Toilet Risers

If your toilet is too low and you have difficulty transferring to it or standing up after you’ve been sitting for a while, seat risers are inexpensive. However, they are not the most stable during transfers, so I recommend replacing your toilet if you can.

ADA or Comfort Height Toilet

Comfort height toilets are usable for many people with disabilities and cost the same as regular toilets. You may be able to find one at a local Habitat Restore or salvage yard if needed. I highly recommend choosing a toilet with an elongated bowl for comfort and safety. 

Bidet

If showering and/or wiping are difficult for you, a bidet can be life-changing. Bidets range from simple models that attach to your water line and don’t require any power to fancier models with heated seats and air-drying functions, and are priced accordingly. Some feature handheld sprayers for those tough-to-reach areas. I can’t recommend them highly enough! Truly a bidet is a must-buy for anyone with a disability, or even an able-bodied person. Plus, you'll never have to worry about a toilet paper shortage again.

Shower Accessibility

The shower is one of the most challenging areas to make wheelchair accessible without remodeling, but these tools can help.

Shower Chair

If you have a tub, I recommend getting a shower chair that goes over the tub, not one that just sits inside it. Small shower chairs are unstable and you don’t want to risk falling. A bench that goes over the tub or a shower chair with feet both inside and outside the tub will give you stability when transferring in and out. I also recommend these types of chairs for shower stalls for stability reasons. If you are remodeling or you’re allowed to attach something to the wall, you can install a flip-up shower seat.

Bath Lift

Powered bathtub lifts will get you in and out of the tub so you can take a bath instead of a shower. However, unless you have a very deep tub, you won’t get the full experience of a true bath. In most cases, your money would be better spent on buying a large, comfortable shower chair or high-end sprayer.

Need more showering help? Check out our article: Safe Shower Chairs and Bath Benches

Shower Sprayer

A handheld shower sprayer will allow you to wash your body more thoroughly. Choose one with several settings so you can find the right amount of water pressure and flow for your comfort and cleanliness. I especially like the Waterpik brand for providing strong water pressure.

Shower Sprayer On/Off Switch

One of the most common challenges for showering with a disability is being unable to reach the controls from your seat. With an on-off switch attached to your shower sprayer, you can set the temperature before you get in, then turn the water off at the handheld shower head and turn it back on when you’re ready. This simple, inexpensive shower accessibility hack can save you thousands of dollars in remodeling costs.

Portable Shower

Water Barrier/Leak Solutions

If you have a roll-in shower that leaks, or if you’ve had to remove shower doors or make other bathroom modifications that have led to problems with water flowing out of the shower area, try these ideas to solve the problem.

Shower Dam Collapsible Water Barrier

If you’ve ever had a roll-in shower, you know they are notorious for leaking. This squishy rubber material helps keep water in without creating a barrier for wheelchairs, as you can simply roll over it.

Curtain for Shower Chairs

Fan

If you have a roll-in or wet room shower, you may encounter issues with standing water and humidity. Installing a powerful bathroom fan can help, but if that’s not possible or if it doesn’t do enough, an adjustable fan will dry the floor faster.

Mini Dehumidifier

If your bathroom has too much moisture buildup due to shower drainage issues, mini dehumidifiers are inexpensive and can make a real difference in a small room. I use this model all summer in my bathroom and it no longer feels like a Florida swamp.

How to Make Your Lighting and Home Control Systems Wheelchair Accessible

Too-high light switches and thermostats used to be a major barrier for wheelchair users. Not anymore! With smart home technology, you can control everything in your home by voice or phone app.

Smart Outlets and Light Bulbs 

How to Get Funding for Wheelchair Accessible Home Modifications

1. Pay out-of-pocket and write it off.

This guide lists mostly-inexpensive items that you can purchase or realistically obtain with the help of family and friends, online fundraising, etc. You can deduct the cost of accessibility modifications from your taxes and from your countable income. If you are in a Ticket to Work or Working Disabled program, they can be counted as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs).

2. Contact your local Center for Independent Living for resources.

Centers for Independent Living are nonprofit disability-led organizations that help people access equipment and services. Some centers have an equipment library or donation program and may have items such as shower chairs. They can also help you find local organizations that will assist you with home modifications.

3. Pursue assistance from government programs such as the Veterans Administration, Medicaid, and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Various state and federal agencies offer assistance with making your home accessible. If you receive Medicaid, search for “Medicaid home modifications [your state]” to find out what services are available.  If you work or you're seeking employment, your state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation will pay for modifications that enable you to get or keep a job, including a ramp, accessible bathroom, kitchen remodel, etc. 

State and federal programs can be extremely helpful for more extensive bathroom and kitchen remodeling. However, it can take a minimum of several months and potentially two or more years to get through the complicated process of receiving assistance. Therefore, I recommend implementing the small, low-cost solutions in this guide while you work with government funding sources.

Getting Help with Personal Care and Household Tasks

For many people with disabilities, me included, no amount of remodeling would be enough for us to do everything for ourselves. If you receive Medicaid, you should be able to qualify for in-home care so you can safely address your personal needs. Don’t go without cooking healthy food or bathing and risk your health and hygiene because your home isn’t accessible enough to do so without assistance. Check out the following resources for more information:

• How to Get Medicaid Personal Care Attendant Services If You Have a Disability
• Medicaid Consumer-Directed Home Care Waivers State by State Guide
• How to Have a Great Disabled Life

Learn More About Wheelchair Accessible Housing

This guide is part of a series on wheelchair accessibility. Check out our other articles for further resources.

• How to Find Wheelchair Accessible Housing
• How to Make Your Home Wheelchair Accessible Without Remodeling
• A Complete Guide to Buying and Building Wheelchair Ramps

Got more wheelchair accessible home tips?

This article is an evolving resource and we want your feedback! Do you have ideas for easy home accessibility modifications that we didn’t include? Please leave a comment below or contact us and we will update this article periodically. If we share knowledge, we can make life better for us all.