David B. Lafever, BS/EET

Rehabilitation Engineer
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Home Modifications
 
I recommend home remodeling to improve access, especially for individuals with limited mobility.  I evaluate the home, identify the obstacles present, and design modifications to reduce or eliminate the barriers.  I also obtain estimates, supervise construction, and perform a final inspection to make sure the consumer can use the modifications as planned.
 
Home modifications I have designed include:
 
Accessible Entrances
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
I designed these extra-low rise steps for a person who uses a walker; each step is large enough to support all four legs of the walker.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I recommended this solid rubber ramp for a person who uses a scooter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short ramp from a back porch to a sidewalk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I design wheelchair ramps with the standard 1:12 slope
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
A long wheelchair ramp at the rear of an older home for a person who uses a manual wheelchair.
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New landing, steps, and porch lift
(This landing is extra-large to avoid a cistern underground and to keep from blocking another exit from the home.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some individuals cannot open a door independently; in these cases, I recommend an electric door opener with wall switches and remote controls.  This unit even has a battery-backup built in.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Access Improvements Inside
 
 
 
 
 
 
I often recommend installation of offset hinges, which can widen a door opening about 1.5 inches.  This simple modification works well for many wheelchair users when a door is just slightly tight.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
When a door must be widened, I recommend installing a custom wood threshold to minimize the transition between two floor coverings.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I recommend installing pocket doors where space is extremely limited; these doors slide into a wall, which maximizes available floorspace.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bathrooms
 
 
 
 
I often recommend extra-tall toilets to more closely match the height of the user's wheelchair seat; this eases transfers considerably.
 
Also, I recommend these fold-up grab bars when support is needed by the user.  They are height-adjustable and can be mounted to the floor in any location.  When I add a roll-in shower, which is level with the bathroom floor, additional floorspace is available for transferring to a toilet.
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I create new floorplan sketches for many of my home modifications
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I often recommend installation of grab bars; I specify the use of special wall anchors that allow installation of a grab bar almost anywhere without additional wood in the wall
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I often design roll-in showers for people; this arrangement allows them to use a shower bench or shower wheelchair.  I also include solid wood walls behind the tile to allow installation of grab bars at any location if desired.  My shower designs also include large corner shelves, handheld showeheads, waterproof ceiling lights, and a collapsible rubber strip along the edge of the shower to retain water.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Another roll-in shower I designed; this shower includes a standard-height showerhead as well as a showerhead on a hose.  A wall-mount control switches the water between the upper and lower showerheads.