Alison Haynes, Inside Equal Access Editor
Season 45 of the long-standing home improvement show, "This Old House", set in Lexington, MA, focuses on renovating and expanding a mid-century modern home in a fully Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant way.
The homeowners’ son, Caffrey, has a rare, degenerative disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He’s still mobile now, but within a few years he’ll need a wheelchair for daily use.
I am no stranger to this TV show. Saturday mornings of my childhood meant the PBS classic unquestionably reigned on the TV screen in the family room. My dad would be in the recliner with his ankle crossed on the opposite knee, fingers templed, watching lots of old white guys do incredibly boring things to rundown houses as slowly as possible. No Smurfs for me!
I failed to see the appeal until later in my 20s when I started watching "This Old House" on my own. I realized that, yes, it remained “a slow burn”. But it was also captivating. The woodworkers and engineers were paying attention to the history of the house, its land, and its previous owners.
They redeemed features and structures ravaged by neglect and lost time and turned them into well-built, historically accurate but modernly outfitted homes. In fact, it’s a direct line of cause and effect from me watching "This Old House" to buying a 100-year-old, solid brick colonial in Ravenna last year.
When you get the itch, it’s only so long before you can't resist a scratch. Thanks to the show and my dad’s regular phone commentary, we bought a beautiful home whose quality and updated mechanicals I was able to verify with my own eyes.
And now this season intersects with my life as an accessibility professional.
Accessibility at home is a significant and growing concern for American families. According to Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., the chairman of the Senate Special Committee for Aging, less than 5% of American housing is accessible, and less than 1% fully accessible by wheelchair. These numbers stand in stark contrast to the 26% of Americans who have a disability.
If you have ever been part of a house search for someone who has complicated mobility needs, you know it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. And when you do happen to find a needle, you realize it’s rusty and dangerous and not at all what you’d choose if ADA concerns weren’t in play.
ADA modifications of non-accessible houses are expensive, require specialized equipment rarely carried in big box stores, and are out of reach for millions of Americans (pun intended).
Often such alterations are seen as ugly and torn out by later owners. I wonder how many later regret those decisions when an injury, diagnosis, or aging means reinstalling grab bars, ramps, lowered sinks, and lever-style door handles.
So the value of seeing a nationally recognized TV show devote an entire season to promoting accessible residential spaces is huge.
The host and craftsmen
- Visit a local accessible home enjoyed by another family familiar with physical disability.
- Tour the showroom of a company specializing in assistive technology.
- Install a therapy pool out back and an elevator indoors.
- Problem-solve creating zero-entry openings and wheelable patios that still have enough grade to safely drain rainwater.
- Show how easy it is to lower light switches and raise outlets.
Season 45 is a master class in understanding both the complexities and approachability of making a home ADA accessible. Catch the episodes on their website, app, or Roku.
Read the entire February 2024 Edition of Inside Equal Access