The recent Options for Independence annual conference was a resounding success.

Not only was this our largest attendance ever for a conference, we also had a tremendous roster of educational workshops and vendors for our trade-show.

As the access advocate here, there was one series of workshops that was particularly interesting to me:  Adaptability Modifications in Homes, Mobile Homes and Apartments. We were very fortunate to secure Anthony Scalici, executive director of Otsego Rural Housing Assistance, Inc. as the presenter.

Scalici's work in the field of home accessibility goes back to 1985, a full 15 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. Back in '85, Scalici saw the opportunity to use small cities grant money to not only improve the housing stock in his county but to help the county transition people out of nursing homes and into home care.

This is the same thinking that guides Options and the “Independent Living Center” movement to this day. By allowing people to stay in their homes, rather than being in institutions, a person's quality of life is greatly improved. It is also far less expensive to care for a person in their home than in an assisted living setting.

Scalici explained that one of the lenses through which this is viewed is accident prevention through removal of barriers.

For example, if a person falls and breaks a hip, it can cost more than $250,000 for treatment. This covers, among other things, the immediate cost of going to the emergency room, a hospital stay and home visits after discharge.

However, the cost of installing grab bars in the bathroom, or low-rise steps, could prevent the fall and injury to begin with and at a fraction of the cost.

In fact, preventing injury by removing barriers and modifying homes has the potential to greatly delay the need for a nursing-home stay or prevent it all together.

Accessibility can be as simple as installing a ramp for a wheelchair, but sometimes it can be more involved.

Kitchens, for instance, are getting more attention than ever these days. Stoves are being installed that have front mounted controls, so that a person in a wheelchair is not forced to reach across the heating surface. Ovens are being mounted so they are usable to people with mobility disabilities. One of the most interesting modifications involves cabinets, which are being built with the shelves on the doors so that the contents are more accessible within reach. There are more accessibility options available now than ever before.

In the end, that is the most important lesson that the workshop instilled in attendees. Everyone's lifestyle, needs and physical home is different. It takes creative thinking and a talent for listening to the consumer to truly address the needs of people with disabilities as individuals. When you can do this, you can make a tremendous difference in a person's life.

Options for Independence administers a number of programs to make homes accessible for qualified people with disabilities. These programs include HARP, HAP and Access to Home. If interested in home accessibility modifications, contact me.

Collin M. Sullivan with Options for Independence may be reached at 255-3447.