How low can you reach comfortably and still maintain your balance? How high? How far in front and to the sides? Answering these questions will help you determine the best places to store frequently used articles. If you cannot reach the floor, for example, you should store your clothes in the middle and upper drawers of your bureau. Tong-type gadgets, which are available in various lengths and weights, extend your reach. A wooden stick with a magnet on the end enables you to retrieve metal objects without bending.

More tips for reaching and storing items:

• Hang pegboards on which to store equipment and utensils.
• Install Lazy Susans, pullout drawers, and open shelving. Many variations of these accessories are available in stores.
• Attach long handles on dustpans and brooms to pick up trash from either a sitting or standing position.
• Install electrical outlets on the front of cabinets at a convenient height.

Counters

If you use a wheelchair, you may find counters in the home to be too high. From a sitting position, most people find a 29- to 31-inch-high counter to be most comfortable. Because many people generally use the same work space, lowering all the counters would be uncomfortable for some workers.

You might install one work surface or table of a suitable height for you and use tabletop appliances, such as an electric skillet, in place of the range. Counters or tables with open areas underneath allow you to pull your wheelchair closer and reduce strain on your back and shoulders.

If you use crutches or a walker, you may find it convenient to have a high stool handy for sitting while you work. A mirror mounted at the back of the range and tilted to reflect the inside of pans is also helpful.

Choosing Appliance Features

You will probably find appliances with controls in the front most convenient. This eliminates the need to lean across the range, washer, etc., to set the dials.

Microwave ovens offer many advantages, including a shallow cooking cavity; side opening doors; and a cool interior, which minimizes your chances of burning yourself.

Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers reduce maneuvering around the doors. Water and ice dispensers located within the doors are also helpful.

Self-cleaning ovens eliminate another difficult task.

In the laundry area, front loading equipment is easier to reach from a wheelchair if the equipment is raised on a platform. For those who use walkers or crutches, top-loading appliances may be easier to use. Tongs will help to reach into the top-loading machines if bending or reaching is a problem.

Small changes in how you perform tasks and simple adaptations can make your life easier and increase your independence.