Assessing the Physical Accessibility of a Homestay Abroad

Whether you are in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Mexico, very few countries enforce accessibility standards for housing. Front steps are common. It’s easy to assume that developing countries will be even worse. In some ways this is true. Mexican houses may seem like they have more flights of stairs, while dispensing with safety features like rails.

Nevertheless, it’s important to keep an open mind, as housing designs can sometimes offer unexpected accessibility benefits. For example, in some countries, bathrooms are constructed to be completely waterproof, and bathing facilities may consist of nothing more than a faucet over an open floor area, effectively serving as a roll-in shower. Carpeting is often less common, which can make mobility easier. In addition, accessibility modifications may be more feasible for American or European institutions to arrange abroad, since labor costs are often lower.

However, evaluating the accessibility of a host family’s home differs significantly from assessing accessibility in public spaces such as university classrooms or study abroad offices.

Moreover, individual needs vary widely. One person might use a large power wheelchair and require wide doorways, a roll-in shower, and space for a Hoyer lift, among other accommodations. Another individual may only need doors wide enough for a small manual wheelchair and a bed low enough for easy transfer. Yet another might only require a parking spot for their wheelchair upon arrival and a living space with minimal steps.

Instead of asking whether a host family stay will accommodate individuals with disabilities in general, ask whether it will meet the specific needs of the disabled participant in your program. Although the host stay may not meet formal accessibility guidelines, it could still be sufficient for the participant’s temporary needs.

Key Factors for Wheelchair Usability

Accessible Entrance

Check if there is a way to enter the house without encountering steps. Most homes will not have a completely step-free entrance, so consider whether an inaccessible entrance can be modified with a portable ramp.

Door Widths

A standard wheelchair requires doorways to be at least 32 inches wide. Sometimes, removing a door and replacing it with a curtain can widen an entrance.

Turning Space

When moving around, a wheelchair user needs enough space to turn their mobility device comfortably. Ensure that each area of the house—the bedroom, living room, and dining room—has sufficient space for turning. Typically, this requires an area about 78 inches by 60 inches, although some individuals may manage with a smaller radius.

Transfer Space

Wheelchair users often transfer to couches, toilets, beds, or chairs. These areas should have adequate space to facilitate transfers.

To transfer to a toilet, bed, or tub, a person may need between 30 and 36 inches of space alongside the transfer surface. Toilets should be 16 to 18 inches from the ground, and the optimal bed height for transfers is around 22 inches.

Knee Clearance

It is helpful to have space beneath sinks, counters, and tables to accommodate knee clearance when rolling up in a wheelchair. Approximately 27 inches of clearance is ideal.

Additional Considerations

• A side-by-side refrigerator and freezer is preferable to a top-freezer design.
• Front-mounted stove dials are best to avoid reaching over burners.
• Rocker switches are useful for individuals who operate lights with a closed hand.
• Lazy Susans in cabinets reduce the need to reach far back for items.
• Hardwood or tile floors are preferable to carpets; if carpets are present, low-pile rather than thick carpeting is ideal.

Consult the Individual

Remember, if you have seen one wheelchair user, you have seen one wheelchair user. Many of the guidelines above are based on ADA standards, which may not apply to private homes. Ultimately, the best housing situation is one that meets the needs of the specific wheelchair user involved. To assess whether a potential space will work, consider asking:

• What is your living space like? Consider the front entrance, doorways, passage widths, turning space, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
• Do you need a Hoyer lift, or can you transfer directly to the bed? How high should your bed be?
• Do you use a shower chair? Do you require a roll-in shower, or can you transfer in a bathtub or on a shower chair?
• Do you need kitchen access? How do you use your kitchen? What is the optimal counter height?
• What turning radius do you require? How much horizontal space do you need to transfer?
• Can you manage a single step? Some manual wheelchair users can negotiate a step, while others may be partially ambulatory and able to climb out of their wheelchair to navigate steps.

Conclusion

Ideally, every aspect of a home would accommodate an individual’s needs. However, very few residential spaces fully comply with accessibility standards, regardless of country. Some housing features, such as open showers, may be advantageous in certain regions. Therefore, it is best to evaluate a host family’s home based on whether it meets the specific needs of the individual with a disability participating in your program, rather than on general accessibility standards. Base your assessment on the individual’s self-report of their housing needs combined with an inspection of the living space, considering the factors outlined above.