Most people think that a home gets designed irrespective of any human condition. But empathy is what gives rise to not just humanity but a home. When you have an impaired person at home, it gets necessary to design the home accordingly. It provides ease and comfort to the person. The best thing you can do is to consult the best builders in India like https://radvi.com/in/why-choose-us/ . Qualified architects and builders know the specifics of how things work at a deeper level. They know how anthropometrics and proxemics work inside a home.
A house sees a change in design for a person who has visual and hearing impairment.
House design for Visual and Hearing impaired population!
Every type of physical impairment requires certain changes that might contradict each other. For example, a person on a wheelchair might need a slope to find a way inside home. While another person who is blind might need a curb to make an idea of change in space. Another example is that a blind needs acoustic rooms to identify the space while a hearing impaired will need a room with less acoustics. This is the reason that sometimes things go hard when a home needs to be designed for two differently disabled persons. Professional builders and architects hold expertise in working things out.
Because each disability poses its own challenges, guidelines around designs for these disabilities are provided separately.
We’ll first talk about how to design a home for the hearing impaired and then we’ll progress towards the visually impaired.
Guidelines on house design for the hearing impaired person!
According to Wikipedia, there are around 63 million people in India that have hearing issues. This includes a population that is totally or partially deaf. Although house design does not create magic for them, it can work towards making their lives easier. A deaf person will find it easier to go through the daily ongoings when homes are designed in a certain way.
Here are the things that you’d want to consider while getting the house designed for the hearing impaired.
- Because a deaf person depends much on visual communication, you need to make sure that there is enough lighting installed inside the house. Go for natural daylight with high lumens. It will help in clear lip reading.
- Make way for natural light to enter and wash the home with its goodness. Natural light promotes the release of Serotonin. This hormone leads to a feeling of joy and wellbeing. It makes a big change to the life of an impaired. You also might want to install natural daylight for areas that do not see any sunlight.
- Installation of emergency alarm system. Flashing of light must be used to communicate an immediate requirement. Place light-flashing switches strategically throughout the house. Furthermore, this flashing should also get activated at the sound of a crying baby. This helps a mother who cannot listen. Light Flashing should be connected to fire, smoke, threat, doorbell, phone, and other alarm systems. It will help the person learn about the possible threat at hand. In case of an emergency, the person can always use flashing switches and ask for help. Search for the Best Builders in India. They will help you install lights with expertise and precision. Real estate companies, like Radvi, hold expertise in home automation and thus must be consulted.
- Always install TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) for phone conversations.
- Provide adequate outlets for electrical appliances to prevent over-dependency on extension cords.
- Always use fire and other threat alarm systems and connect them to flashing-light cues to communicate the same to the person. For example, if there is spark somewhere, the person will come to know at times.
Guidelines on house design for the visually impaired!
A blind person poses other challenges for a house design. Because the needs are different, the design will be different too. Read these guidelines on how to design a home for a visually impaired person. A visually impaired person usually depends on auditory and touch (tactile) senses. Look for the help from best builders in India if you find anything troublesome – https://radvi.com/in/why-choose-us/ .
- The first thing you must do is to create enough acoustics in the room. Acoustics help a blind person to hear sounds clearly and with more intensity. It helps the person make a judgement about the surroundings. Do not use rugs and any material that absorbs sound.
- Remember to install tactile signs at the danger areas to warn the person. You should provide different textures to different door knobs and areas. It will help the person make an idea about things. For example, you can texture the doorknob of the main gate differently. This will help the person know that he/she has opened the main door and needs to be cautious. Look for best builders in India to design home with these signs.
- Remove any obstacle and hanging objects that cannot be detected using the cane. It’ll provide safe and free passage to the person.
- Provide a hook near to the switch boards to hand the cord. It will help the person find the cord next time with ease.
- Keep the edges of furniture and other things rounded. It will reduce the chances of injuries. Furthermore, provide cushioning and padding to table and furniture edges.
- Install audible signal wherever possible. For example, an auditory clue when the elevator arrives and the door opens is good. Another example is to use audio signals for emergency situations.
- Use Braille, the language of blinds, to indent signs and signals throughout the house.
- Gas stoves for blinds must be specially designed. There are specially designed stoves in the market. The companies place these burners in a special way that the hand does not burn while accessing the burners at the back.
- The handrails at the end must extend for one more foot at every ending. The handrails must not end abruptly but allow a person support for a few more inches ahead. If you have a corner ahead at the end, turn the handrail along the corner, but extend it.
These are all the few things that you can do for a visually impaired person. Designing a home in a special way adds value to their life. Furthermore, professional designers and architects hold the knowledge about the latest technologies in the market to help a disabled person. Always consult the best builders in India for special purposes. They will guide you with care and precision. Radvi is one of the best in the industry that is serving India for the past 3 decades. Check them out – https://radvi.com/in/why-choose-us/ . Contact them and speak about your requirements for the design. The thing is that home is something we do not make again and again. It serves us ease when designed with expertise; it also serves us curse when issues keep on happening again and again. Take care of your home and your special loved ones.
