Accessibility Equipment near you

Not every improvement needs a contractor or a large budget. CMHC's list of low- and no-cost modifications for accessibility includes a doorknob gripper or a lever handle that opens without a tight grip or twist, a threshold painted in a contrasting colour for anyone with impaired vision, motion-detecting lights at the entrance, strip lighting or coloured strips on the stairs so the edge of each step stands out, light switches in a contrasting colour, a night light, and low transition strips wherever the floor changes height.

Bigger changes make sense when the person's needs are long term, or when a renovation is already planned. Converting a tub to a curbless shower, rebuilding an entrance or reframing a doorway involves plumbing, waterproofing or structure, and it is far less disruptive to do in one project than piece by piece. If you are renovating anyway, plan for accessibility even if nobody needs it yet, so later additions are simple.

Reducing falls is the main purpose of most accessibility work. The Public Health Agency of Canada's falls prevention guide covers the whole house, and its advice lines up closely with what an accessibility installer does.

Grab bars and lever handles are usually straightforward installations, but any change to the wiring is electrical work for a licensed electrician, including new circuits, switches, outlets or a power supply for a lift. In Ontario, the electrician files a notification with the Electrical Safety Authority; in Quebec, the CMEQ reserves electrical work done for others to electrical contractors.

Ramps and structural changes need more checking. A ramp is a structure attached to or beside the house, and many municipalities require a building permit and set rules on where it can sit on the lot, so ask before building one. Widening a doorway in a load-bearing wall calls for a new header sized by a qualified person, and a curbless shower can mean lowering part of the floor framing. In Quebec, the contractor doing this work must hold an RBQ licence with the right subclasses, while the building permit itself comes from your municipality.

The Home Accessibility Tax Credit is a federal, non-refundable credit claimed on line 31285 of the tax return. It is tied to a qualifying individual, meaning someone who is 65 or older at the end of the year or eligible for the disability tax credit, and a spouse, relative or caregiver who meets the Canada Revenue Agency's conditions can claim it too. Up to twenty thousand dollars of eligible expenses can be claimed per year. A renovation qualifies when it is of an enduring nature, is integral to the dwelling, and either helps the qualifying individual get into the home or be mobile and functional in it, or reduces their risk of harm there.

Provincial programs can add to the credit. Quebec's Programme d'adaptation de domicile, from the Société d'habitation du Québec, helps owners pay for adaptation work in a home occupied by a person with a disability, and Ontario's Home and Vehicle Modification Program lists items such as ramps, widening doors and rearranging bathrooms for eligible residents. Each has its own eligibility rules and steps, so read them before you sign.