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How to Make a Smooth Move When You Have a Disability

January 26, 2018

How to Make a Smooth Move When You Have a Disability Buying a new home is a major milestone in life, one that is exciting and full of possibilities. The process of finding the right home and moving can also be stressful, especially for someone with a disability. Fortunately, more homes are being built with universal design, and feature smart technology, making it easier than ever to find a home that is accessible. These tips will give you a starting place for finding the right home and making the entire moving process easier. Finding the Right Home When searching for the right home, you may want to consider newer construction because more homes are being built with universal design to accommodate the increasing demand for accessibility among more of the population. With the higher demand for these properties, many homes are not only more accessible, but they’re also designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional. Many new homes also feature smart technology that gives you the ability to control everything from turning on lights and opening garage doors to setting your thermostat and appliances. Smart home technology can be used with a smartphone by voice or touch, so it’s ideal for anyone to use. Even if you buy a home that doesn’t already have these features, you may want to consider adding them and factoring that cost into your budget. Packing and Preparing for Your Move Before you move, go ahead and research how you will access essential services you’ll need, like medical providers and getting help with disability benefits. Disability benefits travel with you, but state supplemental benefits can change, so look into any potential changes ahead of time. Go ahead and switch over all utilities before the move so you can settle in right away. Packing may be a challenge, but there are ways you can make it easier on yourself. One of the best things you can do is plan ahead and be organized with how you pack so it’s easier to find what you need after the move. If you’re a list person, use an old-fashioned paper list or go higher tech with an app that allows you to stay organized on your smartphone. When packing up, keep it as simple as possible to cut down on extra work. For example, instead of taking clothes off hangers and folding them, keep them on hangers and lay them flat in wardrobe boxes. The Spruce recommends keeping things together if they’re used together, like light bulbs with lamps, so you aren’t sorting through multiple boxes to get your new home set up. Be sure to keep important documents in one place, and pack an overnight bag with essentials so you aren’t overly stressed about unpacking. And don’t try to do it all on your own! Consider using a service like HireAHelper to find local professionals who can provide help with moving and packing. Moving Day and Unpacking When moving day comes, it’s natural to feel a little out of sorts. After all, moving is a big deal! But it’s important to do whatever you can to keep stress down because heightened stress takes a real toll on your health. Hiring a professional mover will help lower your stress because they can take care of the heavy lifting and even help you unpack. Using the list you made when packing, you can point movers in the right direction for where everything should go. Approach unpacking with a plan and try to organize as you unpack to cut down on extra work. Design blog Wheel Chic Home recommends prioritizing unpacking so that anything you need for accessibility and essential medications are easiest to access and the first things you unpack. The house-buying process is unique to someone with a disability, but fortunately, more houses and services are available these days to make it easier on you. Don’t hesitate to speak up for your needs and use the help that’s out there. That way you can ensure a smooth move with the least amount of stress. Photo credit: Pexels