One of the many overlooked aspects of marketing in real estate is helping those who are disabled or have physical challenges with finding or modifying a residence in order to accommodate.
Typically, we do not do guest posts, but Harry Cline at NewCareGiver.org provides a great case to do so with the below article.
Thanks again to Harry Cline for this valuable info:
If you are in the process of making modifications to a house
to help a person with a visual impairment feel at home, you have a great deal
to consider. Your top priority should be to make the home as organized and
functional as possible. People are much more comfortable in spaces that are
free of clutter and organized in a logical way. You also should consider the
person’s needs and routines. When you make modifications with the person
in mind, you’re sure to create a comfortable space that helps him feel right at
home.
1. Get Organized by
Eliminating Clutter
While you may have an organization
system that makes sense to you, your organization system should be logical
enough that it makes sense to others. For instance, if you throw everything
from chewing gum and masking tape to knife sharpeners and scissors into a junk drawer, you probably will be
the only person in the home who can locate a specific item in that drawer in
under 30 minutes. Organized chaos may work for you, but it will not work for a
person with a visual impairment.
That’s why one of the first things you should do to help a
person with a visual impairment feel at home is to get organized by eliminating clutter. Clutter makes
it difficult to navigate the home, and it makes it virtually impossible for
someone with a visual impairment to find anything. Go room by room and make
sure that there is a place for everything. If there isn’t, decide which items
you want to keep, which you want to donate, and which you want to discard.
Don’t forget to remove clutter from drawers, closets, cabinets, cupboards, and
pantries, too.
2. Address Repairs and
Clean Up
Safety is a top priority, so you’ll want to tackle any
repairs that if left alone could be hazardous. For example, loose handrails, broken windows,
hard-to-navigate corners and broken steps could prove risky for a
visually-impaired person. Tackle what you can yourself, and outsource any other
repairs to professionals.
Now is also a good time for a top-to-bottom clean. Get into
the nooks and crannies, dust, clean counters as well as appliances, and make
sure the bathroom has been given a thorough once-over. This is also a good time
to address any deeper cleaning needs such as
carpeting, curtains, upholstery and even air ducts.
3. Make It Easier to
Cook
People with a visual impairment prefer to be independent, so
it’s a good idea to make a few modifications to your kitchen to make cooking a
little easier. There are several kitchen gadgets and tools available to
assist cooks with low vision. One helpful gadget is a thermometer that reads temperatures aloud. It’s also
a good idea to purchase some extended oven mitts to protect the forearms from
accidental burns, a liquid indicator to avoid spills, and measuring cups and
spoons with large print. Consider adding a task light to kitchen work areas,
especially where people cut food, to make sure there is as much light as
possible.
Another helpful tool is the PenFriend
3. When you start organizing your kitchen, you may be
surprised when you find just how many food items are of similar size and shape.
It becomes difficult for a person with a visual impairment to distinguish these
similar items, but the PenFriend 3 solves the problem with its audio labels.
Label everything from pasta to canned beans in the pantry.
With a few simple home modifications, you can help a person
with a visual impairment feel right at home. Begin by eliminating clutter and
getting organized, hiring a housekeeper, and making it easier to cook.