Bob visits a Roxbury, Massachusetts home where a Kohler shower stall in being installed. The unit is called a free will shower. It is meant for someone who is bound to a wheelchair. It has grab bars and seats already built into the unit. It is not the everyday average shower stall. Gerry Folan, a plumber contractor, is installing a shower valve on the shower that has an anti-scald feature. The valve also has a handle on the front instead of a knob. Both of these features will assist a wheelchair bound person. Gerry also installs an air chamber adjacent to the shower valve which will stop the pipes from vibrating when shutting the water off.

Bob meets Gerry Folan a plumber who is installing a specialized toilet. Phil Boggs from Kohler discusses the unique features of the toilet. It is a high line toilet that is ADA accessible. It sets 18" above the floor whereas a normal toilet rests 14" from the floor. This extra 4" allows a wheelchair user the ease to get up and down from the toilet. Bob also looks at an ADA lavatory with the drain towards the back of the unit and it is made to extend over the cabinet vanity so a wheelchair can get under the unit.

Here are some ideas for designing your home to be accessible to someone with a disability. In the bathroom, tilting mirrors, medicine cabinets, and sturdy grab bars allow easy access for a wheelchair user. Among other items to consider: thermostats with larger, easier to read numbers and lever handles on doors for simpler operation.