House alterations for disabled people: common errors and how to avoid them

Abstract

This study identifies the errors commonly made in designing or building house alterations for disabled people in this country, and recommends design solutions, products and construction details to overcome the most common errors. Fifty houses in the Wellington Region which had been designed or altered to suit disabled people were surveyed and the occupants were interviewed about the success of their alterations. There were some consistent failures in alterations that suggest that there is too little information available to the builder and the Occupational Therapist (who is the most common source of advice but who has little training in building matters) on suitable products and construction details.