Right now we are spending more time at home than we’ve ever done before, but for some disabled people this is something relatively normal to them spending endless hours and days suck at home looking at the same four walls.
I’ve spoken on several occasions about accessibility within the home being a disabled person myself my independence at home is very important not just because of my disability but also my mental well-being. i’m lucky enough to live in a purposely built bungalow for people with disabilities provided by Habinteg ~ A housing association that specialises in accessible homes.
Lockdown I’m sure has most people looking at their homes either thinking of all the improvements they can get done or how claustrophobic their home has suddenly gotten with everyone at home all at once for a long period of time or just wishing they had a garden to sit in. When I’m looking around my home I guarantee it’s a very different reasons it’s not to decorate the walls or get a bigger TV (even though my husband would like a bigger tv) it reminds me of how grateful and lucky I am to live in an accessible home and how hard I had to fight to get my independence to live an independent life.
BUT….
It’s easy right now to forget the hundreds of disabled people/families locked up in homes that are not accessible for their needs, disabled people are living in homes with no way of showering/bathing and unable to use the toilet these are simple basic needs, Yes. Living in a two-storey home with someone that depends on using a wheelchair with no lift or stair lift, with doors they can barely scraped through in their wheelchairs.
With 13.9million disabled people in the UK plus a rapidly ageing population, only 7% of English homes currently provide even the most basic accessibility features. For me having an accessible home for my needs looks like wider doors and hallways a wet room and flat thresholds, these all read and sound very simple needs right!? Unfortunately these simple needs most disabled people won’t ever get to experience with such a huge shortage of accessible homes across the UK.
Why, because there is such a stereotypical belief that disabled people can’t or don’t want an independent way of life contrary to that belief your very wrong.
Just having the appropriate housing can dramatically improve disabled people’s ability to live independently, those whose homes do meet their accessibility needs have reported improved health and wellbeing, Having this pandemic has just proven and highlighted even more so just how unstable homes are for disabled people/families.Kerry 💋what do you see/feel when you look at your home right now??
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Kerry Thompson - My Life, Kerry's Way. 