"How Are Families Managing at Home?" Architectural Barriers in Households of Children with Special Needs

An Issue Ignored by Health Professionals

Abstract

This paper discusses the environmental design requirements of families raising children with severe, chronic disabilities. Case studies provide data on a) the events that persuade parents to start adapting their homes, and why they delay this process: and b) the types of assistance parents require. Findings indicate that architectural barriers affect all members of the household. Most importantly, inaccessible homes reduce the perceived and actual competence of and by the child with disabilities. Parents' natural resistance to making large scale changes is reinforced by allied health professionals' focus on medical issues, and disinterest in how families cope with their daily lives. The author recommends various environmental supports to enable families to make critical adaptions to their homes.