10-11-2024 10:44am

WCBDD Constructs Accessible Home Designed For Local People With Disabilities

MASON, OH-- After years of planning and construction, the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) has finished construction on a new home that will house four people with disabilities who require 24/7 care.

The Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) is a nonprofit agency that contracts with WCBDD to maintain local properties for individuals with disabilities served by WCBDD. Most CHAP homes are designed for people with disabilities who can live on their own with limited support. This new home, however, was designed to care for individuals whose only other option would be a nursing home.

Community Resources Director Carol Heil said this CHAP home aims to house residents who can share nursing services, creating an accessible and cost-effective avenue for people who need around the clock care.

Accessibility Features

In addition to being cost-effective for people with a limited income, many CHAP houses are also modified to be more accessible than most traditional homes. This home was designed to accommodate adults who use wheelchairs and ventilators and have a support staff.

Safety and accessibility start outside the home with a parking lot to allow multiple vehicles to visit at once. A flat patio with no stairs creates easy wheelchair access in and out of the home.

The house is located near a major hospital and the interstate for easy travel in case of emergency.

While a typical home has a large primary bedroom with smaller individual bedrooms, this CHAP home has four bedrooms that are equal sizes to keep accommodations the same for each resident.

Each bedroom is outfitted with ample electrical outlets to accommodate medical equipment. There is also a light switch near the bed to accommodate those with mobility restrictions.

The closet shelves are adjustable to accommodate the height and reach of each individual.

There are sprinkler heads throughout the house and low windows for evacuation. There are emergency safety plans in place to ensure the safety of the residents.

The kitchen, bathrooms, and hallways were designed with a large width so that a wheelchair can more easily navigate through the home.

Moving into the bathroom, the barrier-free shower was designed for easy wheelchair access, with a non-slip shower floor and an adjustable shower head.

The bathroom mirror is slanted downward to allow individuals in wheelchairs who are lower to the ground to see themselves. There is also ample leg room underneath the bathroom sink to allow wheelchair users to appropriately use the vanity.

With an obtainable nursing staff and an accessible home, four Warren County residents are reaching new levels of independence.

About CHAP

In Ohio, county boards of developmental disabilities work with nonprofit housing boards to provide housing for individuals with disabilities. The Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that has served the community for over 30 years.

There are 88 CHAP homes in Warren County, including single-family homes, apartment complexes, duplexes, and condominiums. Residents must be eligible to receive services from WCBDD and have financial resources to pay for rent, utilities, and support.

For more information about CHAP, contact Community Resources Director Carol Heil at (513) 228-6516 or carol.heil@warrencountydd.org.