DDD Members Get A Lift in Their Home Life
Gilbert and Christina stand behind their sons, Dimitri (left) and Dante.
The low curb allows users to roll a shower chair into the shower.
A construction alteration can make life at home considerably easier, particularly for individuals with mobility challenges. The DES Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) offers home modification services for eligible DDD members, which can remove barriers, making it easier for individuals to be more independent in their homes. For brothers Dimitri and Dante, and their parents, Christina and Gilbert, a home modification was a huge relief.
Christina and Gilbert found a house in northern Arizona that fulfilled their dreams. The spacious, open floor plan and wide hallways enable their sons to easily navigate throughout the home with their wheelchairs. However, there were obstacles that DDD Support Coordinator, Felicia Waldon, identified when she visited. After consulting with Christina and Gilbert, Felicia contacted the DDD Environmental Modifications Team.
When the lift reaches the ground, the safety guard comes down so the user can exit the lift onto the concrete pad. Dad, Gilbert, looks on.
“The thing that I really wanted was a ramp,” said Christina, which would make transferring her sons from the car to their front door easier. “Gilbert would have to carry them up and down the steps to get them in and out of the car. I would have to do the same thing with the wheelchairs; get them up over the railing.”
When Mike Treinen from the DDD Environmental Modifications team visited, he assessed the entire house to see how else DDD could assist. Because of the grade of the front steps, Mike discarded the ramp idea and suggested a lift be installed instead. He then noted that the bathroom needed to be modified.
Dante can operate the lift himself.
JW Builders was selected as the construction company and its owner, Jacob Weeks, assigned the project to Kevin and Riley–both of whom Christina described as “amazing!” They worked on the bathroom first, but when the two-man team demolished and removed the old tub, they encountered a plumbing issue, but found a solution and installed a new shower. The new one allows a shower chair to be rolled in.
While waiting for the drywall to dry, the team started on the lift. A large concrete pad allows room for the parents to load and unload Dimitri and Dante out of the van directly onto the pad. The team had to cut out a part of the existing railing, then add in 4x4 supports for the gate. “They made the gate out of raw wood but then they stained it to match the patio,” said Gilbert. “Whether they were [required] to do that or not, I don’t know–they went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with their work.”
Dimitri rests his foot on the lift’s safety guard.
The hardworking team didn’t let all the construction work get in the way of showing their soft skills. Christina explained that when the family goes out, people often talk right over the brothers and directly to her without acknowledging them. But the construction crew did acknowledge the brothers. “The boys liked it,” Christina said. “Dante especially, because Dante likes to be right in the middle of things.” After the installation, one of the workers showed Dante how to operate the lift himself.
An offset door hinge widens the doorway.
The project was quick from start to finish. It started on a Tuesday and was nearly completed by Thursday. “There were only two guys and they did all that work!” said Gilbert. “I can’t say enough about those guys - they were amazing!”
“They were hard workers and worked great together,” said Christina. “They took everything of the boys into consideration. They went above and beyond, I can’t say enough about those guys.”
If you are a DDD member and are eligible for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), contact your Support Coordinator to learn how a modification could make your home easier to navigate.