Why So Many Young Disabled People Are Forced to Adapt Their Homes

ADPR: This article contains gifted products from The Ramp People. All opinions are my own.

There’s a secret war going on in the UK at the moment, and that is surrounding the sheer lack of accessible housing available for young disabled people. Housing developers are prioritising accommodation for over-65s and adapted council properties, whilst very few private rentals are being designed with accessibility at their core. Even when homes are marketed as accessible, they’ve often not been well thought out and so there’s still aspects missing or poorly considered.

Pair that with the increasing number of people living with dynamic disabilities, and you have a large group of young disabled people falling through the cracks between needing more than an ‘average home’ but less than a fully adapted property. I am one such person.

Imagine this, me (a twenty-something-year-old woman) trying to find a ground floor property, one that doesn’t rely on ‘if’ a lift is working, with wide enough doorways to use my wheelchair in the house, and a bathroom space with grab rails. Perhaps a slightly larger bathroom to accommodate medical supplies, and a ramped back door to allow for animals, or simply wanting to enjoy a cup of tea in your space!

The reality is that spaces like the one I’ve just described are incredibly limited in the UK. Many people don’t have the luxury of choosing a home that already meets their needs and so we’re often left adapting properties that weren’t designed with us in mind. This usually comes at a higher cost, as the more accessible option usually also ends up being the ‘privileged’ option (e.g. having a ground floor flat with outdoor space). Finding somewhere that is both affordable and accessible, its basically impossible in the South of England.

Tie that in with the lack of care support available, inaccessible homes can also present hazards and dangers and really impact the independence of a young person. Inaccessible housing in itself can be disabling as well as energy consumptive, if you’re constantly having to fight to achieve the basics safely.

As a result, we as a group are becoming more and more resourceful at finding ways to adapt our own homes to service the needs we have and work around our limitations. The reality is that many of us aren’t adapting our homes because we want to. We’re adapting them because there simply aren’t enough suitable alternatives available.

One of the best solutions I have so far found to help me manage this has come in the form of a weatherproof ramp – this is great, because I don’t have to keep taking it outside and bringing it back indoors and with this particular set up, I don’t even have to have a separate ramp for the indoor threshold!

It’s nice and sturdy, and doesn’t bend too much when you put weight on it so I don’t feel like it’s going anywhere when I use it and I love that it has the slightly raised edges, as it just gives me some peace of mind as I wheel up and down.

This ramp has revolutionised my backdoor space, as I feel like I have a practical solution to navigating what is otherwise a very unsafe area for me due to the step required in and out of the property. I can now go outside and enjoy my garden area and invite my friends round to join me without a fuss.

Other adaptation aids that have helped me in the home include my Ikea Vimle Sofa bed, my shower chair and Raskog trolleys.

What adaptations have you made to your home that have helped you to cope a bit better on a day-to-day? Do you have any thoughts on the lack of accessible housing for disabled people?

Interested in the ramp I have?
The Adjustable Threshold Ramp with Entry Plate Kit is a great example of how a relatively simple adaptation can have a meaningful impact.

While no single product is right for everyone, it’s encouraging to see solutions that recognise the realities of disabled people’s lives and the challenges that many UK homes still present.

If you’re considering a ramp, The Ramp People can offer advice on finding the right option for your space. You can also use the code MALIANDME for 10% off and, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for VAT relief of up to 20%.

Accessibility shouldn’t stop at the front door, and it shouldn’t have an age requirement.