Question for adults/teens

[Brenda]

This may sound kind of strange but I have a question for those who have grown up with the obpi. My 10 month old Tara also has obpi. My husband and are in the designing process of building a new house.

With my daughter's interest in mind, I am wondering if there are things we can design 'into' her room and our home to make things more pleasant for her. My intention is not to baby her or make her life easy, cause I know it won't always be.

So, maybe there are things that will make tasks more efficent, like built ins in her bathroom?

I would love and appreciate some ideas. Thanks in advance!

[francine]

brenda - this is so caring of you to ask for this...

the hardest things in our house for Maia to get to or reach or use - give her the greatest stretch or workout

just a thought... I hope you take this in a positive light - it's just what came to mind when I read your post..but I still think it's a very sweet idea

-francine

[jep98056]

Brenda:
I think it's great that you're thinking about this and have the opportunity to put some useful features into your new home. Having a special, bright, fun place for supplemental physical therapy exercises is the first thing that comes to mind (we used the dining room table when I was a young child). Combining the room with other workout equipment for yourself and other family would make it not only for her use but for everyone. Maybe your PT/OT clinic could offer suggestions for equipment and layout of the room. Also, if possible, I think a heated swimming pool would be very useful for therapy. Again, something for other family members to take advantage of. As for other special features in the house, such as bathrooms, etc., I really don't have anything specific to offer.

John P.

[njbirk]

Brenda,
We built our own home and to be honest, I never thought of this. Now that I am thinking of it, the only thing I could suggest is what John already has, a swimming pool. We have a hot tub on our back deck and that helps too. Hmmm. perhaps a bar mounted somewhat high for stretching, like they have in ballet classes, only higher. But that is always something you can add later, doesn't need to be built in.

Good question!
Nancy

[Michelle_16]

Hi! You have already had good suggestions from the others that i think would b useful aswell!

I dont know wot arm of your daughters is effect. I am right obpi and i found it really hard to use the kettle because they are designed for right handed people! The handle was on the right and if i turned it around the cord would get tangled so we bought a kettle where the handle is on top its a bit like a teapot! Obviously your daughter doesnt need a kettle just now bcos she wont use the kettle for a while yet!

A swimmin pool would be good! Maybe get her some of those big excercise balls that she can walk her hands over so her hands straighten out! They look so much fun!

I wish i got to use them when i was little!

I think its really cool that you are thinkin about her as you are designing your house!

To be honest i think she would manage in a house that hasnt got too many gadgets bcos she will get used to doin things that she finds difficult and will help her! I found it more difficult at school with those scissors for right handed ppl. She will manage with a little help!

A low fridge would b ideal for midnight snacks! LOL

Good Luck

Michelle x

[Kathleen M]

Hi

You have some great advice here.
It really depends on how long you intend to stay in your home -- We had an in ground pool for 15 years when my children were small. I was in the water everyday and it was great for my arm and of course great family fun. A heater will be necessary because cold water for me was terrible. We used a solar cover and that not only kept the water warmer but kept the water cleaner... we used it every night.

Growing up we had an ugly bar between two rooms... When I was an adult I realized that the bar was for ME to hang on it was not just a game but therapy.

When I was a teenage I was lucky the way the house was built right next to the sink and mirror was a doorway and I would put the hair dryer in my bpi hand and lift it up on the doorway so I could use the brush with my unaffected hand... sounds silly but I did not do that nor think of it after I was married and built two house without it...duh... and find it a problem... OK I am vain... thinking about my hair...LOL now we are looking to put in a new vanity with a cabinet attached to rest my arm on while blow drying my hair...
For older children I suggest - Wall oven with the ability to pick thing out of on either side. I have always had a wall oven when I built this house I put a regular dual fuel stove and convection micro... duh I can't lift things out of regular oven nor can I lift dishes up to put in micro... I just never thought of it.
Washing machines for teens - best to have front loaders. This way they do not lift out of machine with unaffected arm and shoulder causing overuse...
I just purchased front loaders with drawers on the bottom that raise the machine up so that I stand and waist high are the tubs... they are so great... every woman should use one and it keeps the kids independent to be able to work in the kitchen and laundry safely... While these appliances are not built in and the need for them is a long way off for you, designing a kitchen and bathrooms for the future helps.
I have to put in a whole new kitchen to correct my own thoughtless mistakes... and I should have realized that I needed certain things... but I just never paid attention to what I could not do and have always had wall ovens and doorways to depend on so I did not realize how much I need them... LOL...

I looked into the wall oven that opens like a door but think they may be dangerous for bpi - - because you could hit your elbow on the door and burn yourself without even realizing it...

A Hot tub in on my list I would love to put one in but can only do so much at a time.

Kath

[francine]

Heated indoor swimming pool - for year-round use - if it's possible - would be fantastic. This way you could get daily workout in the water - which is what our kids are supposed to do. Having it right there makes it happen - you don't have to go anywhere else (in the cold) or deal with chemicals or temperature changes, etc. We're still trying to get one in our garage - one day...

There are swim spas that are an alternative and half way between spa and pool - they are longer spas, and they are movable. You just don't have a deep end. I found that Maia gets the best workout in the deep end of the pool - I remove some pieces of her floatie bringing the water up to her neck- so her shoulder is completely submerged... she works her arm and her hips/legs at the same time (deep water walking with arm movements)

anyway.... isn't it exciting that you are building a new home anyway! Many years ago in my previous marriage we built a new home and it was so neat picking everything out and watching it go up (styrofoam piece by styrofoam piece! LOL). If you can - take pictures of all the plumbing and electrical stuff BEFORE the drywall gets tacked on - it can be VERY helpful if you get a leak later on.

good luck!
-francine

[Brenda]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I especially like the indoor pool idea, but that one might be awhile. My current laundry room is built up and front loading and I wouldn't have it any other way. The bathroom and kitchen ideas were great as well.

Our living room is currently overtaken with therapy equipment disguised as toys.

Thanks again for all the neat ideas, they will be helpful.

[jennyb]

I am tbpi not obpi, but there's one thing that really affects me in other people's homes-the placement of the toilet roll holder! Make sure it's on a side that can be easily accessed for your child, I've got myself into some amazing contortions trying to reach it, so many people automatically put it on the right side and I can't reach with my left hand.
The other thing is high cupboards, when I'm reaching up and getting something from a high shelf and other things start to fall, I can't stop them with the other hand and so they fall on me or the floor and there's not a thing I can do about it. We are currently going through the design/build thing, too, these are the only issues I'm addressing specific to the bpi.

[Judy-T]

Jenny, I was getting ready to write the same thing about the toilet paper roll. When I am out of my environment I always check where the roll is before I go,then i can tear off some if I know I can't reach it.