Throughout the home:

• Use lever-type handles instead of door knobs and lever handles for faucets.
• Make doorways 36 inches wide, instead of the standard 32 inches, to accommodate a wheel chair.
• Position light switches 42 inches off the finished floor where they are accessible to someone in a wheelchair and are a comfortable height for most people.
• Use motion sensors for lighting at entry areas of the home.
• Select floor coverings that can accommodate a wheelchair or walker: commercial grade carpet, wood, laminate and ceramic tile with grout joints not more than 3/8-inch wide. For kitchen flooring, Fisher Knott often recommends commercial carpet squares which can be cleaned or replaced.
• Use pocket doors when possible.
• Put dimmers on all light switches, allowing a mix of daylight and artificial light. At night, the light level can be changed.
• Use pull-down wardrobe lifts for upper clothes - pole spaces in walk-in closets. Hafele, for example, offers such a wardrobe system, which allows the user to pull down the upper rack. The system requires a 48-inch-deep closet.

In the kitchen:

• Provide open spaces in base cabinets to accommodate wheelchairs.
• Vary counter heights, and include pull-out boards that lock in place for use as extra counter space.
• Install faucets to the right or left of the sink instead of behind it.
• Install appliances at accessible levels.
• To make dishwashers more accessible, she suggest elevating them or using dishwasher drawers placed on either side of the sink. Front-loading laundry equipment can also be elevated.
• Select non-reflective counter surfaces and appliances with easy-to-read controls to prevent eye strain.