ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND CONTROLS

E S S E NTIALS:

★Light switches placed about 36 inches to 40 inches above the floor.

★Large rocker-style switches that are easy to turn on and off.

★Electrical outlets placed about 18 inches to 24 inches above the floor, to minimize the need for bending down.

★Thermostat and other controls placed about 48 inches above the floor.

★Thermostat and control panels that are easy to read and simple to operate (check accessible equipment stores or web sites).

★Telephone, cable, and modem jacks placed about 18 inches above the floor.

■ Circuit breaker panel on the main floor and easy to access, perhaps in the laundry area.

WORTH CONSIDERING:

■ Lighted switches that are visible in the dark.

■ Slide plates on outlets, to childproof the outlet when not in use.

■ Motion-activated lighting that automatically turns on when someone enters the room.

■ Switched outlets so that floor lamps and table lamps can be turned on and off with a wall switch.

■ Plenty of electrical outlets for current or future equipment (placed 18 inches to 24 inches above the floor).

■ Programmable thermostat to save energy at night or when you are not at home.

■ “Zoned” heating and cooling, with separate thermostats for different parts of the house, to conserve energy while keeping the temperature comfortable where you are.

■ Visible and audible alarms on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Posting by: Sketcher

This is provided by the Iowa Program for Assistive Technology,

a program of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Center for Disabilities and Development,Iowa’s University Center for Excellence on Disabilities.