Accessibility is NOT Scary!

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Accessibility is not scary.  Seeing people who don’t have a safe and accessible home is what scares me.  Yet for some reason, people act like I’m scary when someone suggests they let me do a home evaluation or they act like thinking about safety and access equipment and remodeling is scary.

I do understand.  It isn’t me that scares people.  It might be admitting that they have some limitations, that they need to change how they do things, that they aren’t as young as they once were or as able as they once were that is scaring them.  One of the ways a human being makes themselves feel secure and safe is to deny that something is wrong.  It ultimately isn’t a successful way to achieve safety and security, but denial is a pretty common response.

Ask anyone to explain what the phrase “he is his own worst enemy” means and they will be able to do it.  Yet most of us have difficulty perceiving when we are behaving like our own worst enemy.   Running a home modification business I meet people every day who have a strong desire to live life independently and on their own terms.  Yet they resist changing how they do things, turn their back on offers to help from people who love them, and deny that they could use balance supports, mobility equipment, or any number of helpful gadgets to increase safety and independence.  They are their own worst enemy as their own behavior and decisions make it difficult for them to achieve their goal of living independently and on their own terms.

There is another old saying.  “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”  As a residential access designer, it is my job to lead you to the water- Heck, I’ll build you a ramp to the water if you’d like- but I can’t make you drink.  I can and will continue to preach all day long than creating a home that is safe and matches your abilities will give you a better chance of living the way you want to and on your own terms.  The rest is really up to you.

So do your part. Share the news.  Share this blog and try to convince yourself and your friends that Access isn’t scary- Not having a safe and accessible home is what is scary.  Give us a call if you’d like a personal (and not scary) evaluation to achieve an accessible and safe home.