The Wheelchair Accessible Kitchen
An integral part of independent living is being able to cook and prepare food. Canadian Paraplegic Association ( Nova Scotia ) offers this guide to building a wheelchair accessible kitchen to make this task easier.
The first thought given in creating an accessible kitchen is to remember for whom it is being built. The Nova Scotia Building Code does give specific guidelines for some kitchen areas, but problem solving is the key to designing a truly accessible kitchen. The best advice is to start with the areas found in the code and then to move on to areas not covered by the code.
A kitchen will never be accessible if there is not the room to turn and maneuver. Ensure there is at least one turning diameter of 1500 millimeters within the kitchen. Also ensure there is at least 1200 millimeters in front of appliances and cut out areas of the cupboards to provide ease in a right or left angle turn.
Section 3.8 of the Nova Scotia Building Code stipulates measurements for counters. This stipulation should be used as the basis for much of the work to be done in the kitchen. The Code requires counters to have:
An opening of 760mm in width, and
An opening of 685mm in height, and
An opening of 485mm in depth
In areas where access to the counter top is required and access to the appliances is required then these dimensions should be strictly utilized. Every person needs an area of the counter to prepare food. Ensure that there is at least one opening that meets the building code specifications for just this purpose.
Similar considerations should be used when considering the sink and the stove.
It is important to remember that the height dimension of all openings is the opening itself. For counters it is the height to the bottom edge. In the case of the sink it is the height to the bottom of the sink. Similarly, for the stove it is the height to the bottom of the stove top. A counter top stove is a must with the controls being on the front for easy reach of the user. This is not just for ease but to reduce the risk for burn injuries. The space underneath will allow the individual to get close enough to allow best access. The sink must be considered in the same fashion. The height of the opening is 685mm to the bottom of the sink. In the case of the sink levered handles on the faucets are a necessity and are required by the Nova Scotia Building Code.
The use of a counter top stove often necessitates the use of a built in oven unit. This again must be carefully planned. The oven purchased should have a door that opens to the side rather than up and down. This again is for making the reach easier and protecting from burns. Placement is equally as important. Most ovens have the controls at the top. Therefore reaching these controls is essential.
The reach of a man in a wheelchair and a woman in a wheelchair is significantly different. The average reach of a man facing front on to such an appliance is 1400 millimeters. The reach of a woman in the same position is 1300 millimeters. This must be considered on how high the oven is placed. The lowest rack inside the oven should be at knee height of the person in the wheelchair. Again, this is to avoid unnecessary reaching and reducing risk of burns.
Most modern kitchens have microwave ovens and care must be taken on their positioning. Do not use an oven that is suspended from a cupboard or another area. Use a model that sits on the counter top. This type of unit will enable a user to put or even drag a dish from the oven onto the cupboard.
The cupboards themselves must be viewed for ease of use. Pull out shelves are a must as the reach of a person from a wheelchair into the cupboards is extremely limited. Equally, reach to the floor or downward from the wheelchair should be considered. With this consideration in mind and the need to minimize damage to the cupboards from the foot rest area of the wheelchair a raised cupboard with an indented kick plate is suggested. An indentation of 170millimeters from the floor should allow the feet and the footrest to pass under the doors. The inset or depth measurement should be 150millimeters. This will keep the lower section of the cupboards free of foot damage.
The great challenge with designing cupboards is how to make the upper cupboards useful. The reach of the person in the wheelchair greatly reduces this use. To lower these cupboards can greatly reduce the room between the counter top and the bottom of the top set of cupboards. There are hand held reaching devices that can improve their use. However, the 1300 millimeter reach restrictions, previously noted, for a woman can mean even the lowest shelf in this bank of cupboards may be not within reach without such a device as a hand held reacher. Design should focus on multiple pantry style sections of cupboards to optimize reach and useable space.
A kitchen can be designed to be useful for a person in a wheelchair but the solution is found in thinking carefully about the design.
Source: Canadian Paraplegic Association ( Nova Scotia )
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