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April 1999
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April 1999
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The author, Jeff Silverman, will appreciate your feedback on his adventures in care of: mdtap@clark.net.
Not since I was 18 years old (I am now 36), have I enjoyed the normality of the use of a kitchen and bathroom that one might expect everyone to have. Finally, after 16 years of using a wheelchair, I now have an accessible kitchen and bath.
For 16 years I had to sit sideways next to a kitchen sink in order to turn the faucet on or to grab a drink of water, to wash dirty dishes, wash my hands, etc. For 16 years, I also have had to sit sideways next to an oven and range top stove in order to fry an egg, prepare oatmeal, make mashed potatoes, boil water for hot coffee, and to bake the occasional meals on wheels meatloaf, brownies, chicken, pizza, etc.
For 16 years I've had to sit sideways next to a broiler to broil my steaks, then having to bend down to nearly the floor to poke them with a fork to lift this piece of meat to a plate (occasionally the steak sliding off the fork dropping onto the floor) first.
For 16 years I had to sit sideways next to a dishwasher to open it and fill it with dirty dishes that I rinsed off sitting sideways next to a sink. The same goes for when I needed to empty the clean dishes from the dishwasher, usually placing the dishes on the counter top because of the lack of accessible cabinetry.
My recent condo renovations and remodeling have left me wondering why I waited so long to have such a modern convenience as a functional and accessible kitchen. After two months of having workmen, renovations, and dust in the home, as well as eating out every day or becoming great friends with the pizza and Chinese food delivery guys, I now am proud to say I have an accessible kitchen. It was my design and it is working! I have been to the grocery store 3 times in 10 days, that's a record for me! I am now able to functionally use a kitchen from a wheelchair the way a kitchen should be used from a wheelchair.
I can wheel under the sink to now wash dishes, hands, etc. while facing the sink. I can now wheel under the cook top stove to prepare breakfast, a grilled cheese, and the occasional greasy burger. My oven now sits at an accessible height in a wooden oven cabinet where I can safely open the door and take out the hot pizza instead of dropping it because it was too heavy to lift. By the way, the rib eye steak I ate this past weekend was finally medium well, not to mention the delicious garlic bread, and baked potatoes. (Maybe if the editor of Tapping Technology brings up a bottle of respectable vintage, she might get a steak dinner too!)
Clean up is now easier than ever, I can easily rinse dirty dishes and open the dishwasher the way one would expect, facing it, then, placing them inside. When they are finished washing, now I can bring down the movable electric cabinet and place the clean dishes in there instead of on the counter top. What a luxury this is.
Now for the bath, I decided to get a customized wheel-in shower instead of continuing to have to lift my large self onto a shower bench that sits over a bathtub and then transferring back to my wheels. In my new set up, I've had five showers in seven days. I can now shave and perform other personal hygiene facing a mirror instead sitting sideways next to a bathroom sink.
It's not easy living in a non-accessible home when you need to use a wheelchair. It's not easy renovating a home for accessibility, either. I've had to fight with an insurance company, fight with the occupational therapist, argue with the case manager, contractor, as well as having to tell friends and family to shut up with their free advice more than once!
I was the one who designed my kitchen and bath for what I thought I needed. Of course I kept changing my mind because of friends and family providing a lot of ideas and input. My home has turned out great. I had the best ideas, because, after all, I LIVE HERE. So, the next time you see me, please mention to me how clean I look and how well fed I appear to be.
D.
D.
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