After photographing my kitchen and thinking about how
inaccessible it can be at times, I started to wonder how this space can be
modified into a more universally designed area. I did some research and found a
few items that would help alleviate the problems in this kitchen, including,
the high cabinets, unusable storage space, and limited space to maneuver objects around. Here
are some of the ideas I found:
Extended Arm Grabber
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Although the extended arm grabber is relatively inexpensive,
compact, and easy to use, I thought it might still be difficult to reach the
high spaces for those in wheelchairs. The extended arm grabber also does not
work well for objects that are not circular in shape and could result in
dropping certain objects, especially things that are heavy. Lastly, this would simply be a modification tool for some, rather than a way to make the kitchen more universally designed.
Step Stool with Handrail
The step stool with the handrail also seemed like a great
modification at first. However, as I mentioned in phase 1 of the universal
design challenge, step stools are hard to maneuver in my kitchen due to the
lack of space. A step stool would also not provide accessibility to those who
use wheelchairs. Therefore, the step stool modification would be insufficient
in addressing many of the universal design principles, especially lacking
simplicity in use, low physical effort, and the size and space for approach and
use.
Low to the Ground Cabinets/Floor Cabinets
The third modification I thought of was creating low-to-the-ground
cabinets. This would be accessible to all and would meet the 7 principle
guidelines of universal design. The only issue with the sole use of this
modification is that overhead storage would be completely unused and
unaccounted for, thus the kitchen would be crowded with items in the floor
cabinets.
The last modification I came across was adjustable height
cabinets, also known as accessible shelving, which I believe is the best idea
to make my kitchen, or any kitchen for that matter, more universally designed.
This alteration would allow for overhead storage use and would be accessible to
people of all heights, or those in wheelchairs. The adjustable height cabinets
would also be equitable in use, flexible in use, simplistic, provide
perceptible information, require low physical effort, and provide the appropriate
size and space for approach; meeting ALL of the principles of universal design.
Below is a video of the Kitchen Cabinet Lift System, which is a little more complex than the accessible shelving/adjustable height cabinets discussed above, but still seems like a great way to promote universally designed spaces! The company responsible for creating these cabinets is Freedom Lift Systems.
Before: After:
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