Moving from one place to another is going to be a stressful process, no matter the distance and regardless of how many times you’ve moved to a new home in the past. When you’re disabled, though, it becomes even more difficult. Whether your disability is mental or physical, it is sure to impact your move. Blindness or another visual impairment, though, is one that will be especially challenging. Too many abled people overlook the impact that senses like sight make on every aspect of their lives, but disabled individuals know that difference all too well. So, when it comes to moving when you’re blind, whether you’re living on your own or with loved ones, you’ll have a few particular considerations to keep in mind.
1. Build a strong team.
If you‘re moving with a partner or roommate who isn’t blind, they will be a crucial part of your moving team. However, that’s by no means a necessity. Even if you’re planning a move on your own, you can ensure you have the team you need to make the move as effortless as possible. From planning a bathtub or shower remodel with an experienced, understanding shower remodeling team of contractors to finding a realtor who can meet your needs, you can take full advantage of being a homeowner when you have a community working to help make that happen.
2. Do plenty of research.
You might research realtors and remodelers who are well reviewed and ready to help a blind homeowner take on their move. But it’s just as important that you research other elements of the moving process, too. Resources like a carefully crafted vision impairment moving guide can help you — and anyone else you might be moving with — better understand this process and what it takes to make it a more accessible one, whether that’s a high-contrast color scheme, tiles without inaccessible patterns, or accessible accessories and upgrades to be made.
3. Wait for the right home.
Before you can dive into the moving process, you need to have somewhere to move to. And, whether you’ve been blind all your life or it’s a recent consideration, it’s a factor you simply cannot overlook when choosing a new home. Is a prospective house accessible or able to be made so with minimal renovation, like a new shower or minor shower remodel? Can it accommodate you and anyone else you might live with? Is it service dog friendly, if you have one? What about other risks, like mold or mildew that could put your health in danger if you can’t tell they’re there? These considerations may not be the common qualities that go into house hunting, but they’re nevertheless important factors for a blind buyer.
4. Communicate throughout the process.
No matter how fantastic your realtor, remodelers, or fellow inhabitants of a home are, they simply can’t understand what it’s like to be blind if they’re not blind themselves. As such, it’s essential that you advocate for yourself and communicate your needs and any concerns that come up along the way. Are you concerned about the tub being accessible? Ask about it. Do you need a family member to examine a space on your behalf? Request that they come along. This will be your home, so it’s crucial that you make sure it’s a space that will work for you.
Whether you’re in the process of moving to a new home already or you’re just beginning to plan for the process, there’s a lot to take care of in any context, but all the more when you’re blind or otherwise disabled. From discerning whether a grab bar can be worked into the bathroom design or if certain fixtures in a home are accessible to you and anyone else you live with, disabled home buyers have unique considerations to keep in mind compared to the typical shopper. However, there’s no reason at all that a blind or disabled person can’t successfully move into their new home and continue to thrive once they’re there.
