When I found myself confined to a wheelchair, I was lucky enough to find a new house that was just being framed at the time. I was able to get with the builder to include a number of wheelchair accessibility features. This was fifteen years ago, and I have done additional work to make what I consider to be an ideal wheelchair environment. I have purchased a home in California, and would like to keep this house as a rental. I would prefer to rent to another disabled veteran, so as not to have to undo certain accessibility features for the general market. Here are some of the features:

Outside:

• The walkway to the front door comes level with the doorway. The door has a keyless entry deadbolt with a four-digit code for entry.
• The two-car garage has a ramp to enter the house at the kitchen. The slope of the ramp meets VA recommendations.
• The garage door is equipped with an electric door opener with remote.
• There are two decks in the backyard, with a bridge between them and a ramp to ground level. One deck is off the kitchen, the other is off the master bedroom. They are accessed through double french doors.
• One slightly negative note: increasing the depth of the garage to accommodate ramps resulted in a very steep driveway.

Inside:

• The main floor has two bedrooms, one of which has been configured as an office. There is a third bedroom with bath in the basement.
• There is a stair glide for wheelchair access to the basement.
• The master bedroom is quite large and has a very open bathroom with plenty of room to maneuver.
• The master bath has:
  a full-length tiled vanity with a kneewell at one sink (surface is lowered for convenient access from a chair)
  a roomy walk-in closet (shelves and clothes rods are lowered for ease of access from a chair)
  a soaking tub
  a roll-in shower with hand-held shower hea
  a standard toilet (I have inserts to raise the seat level to chair height). In the past, transfers have been quite easy.
• There is a laundry alcove on the main floor with washer and dryer.
• There is a guest bathroom on the main floor which is not wheelchair accessible. Floor is tiled.
• The dining/living room has a ceiling fan/light over the dining area. Both fan speed and light intensity are adjustable from a wall switch.
• The programmable thermostat is lowered for convenient access from a chair. Gas heat plus central air-conditioning.
• The kitchen has:
  lowered counters and cabinets for convenient access from a chair
  lowered sink with knee-well, with dishwasher to the side for ease of loading/unloading
  lowered four-burner electric cook top with knee-well, with oven to the side for ease of use from a chair (controls are to the side so you don't have to reach across burners to adjust settings)
  a large pantry behind sliding doors
  a custom-made hutch with easily accessible shelves and a roll-out wastebasket behind a door (I have a dog and cat)
  a telephone mount on the wall
  a standard refrigerator
• The bedroom that was converted to an office features:
  a large built-in desk and computer station with a three-drawer pedestal with the lowest drawer designed for hanging files
  built-in shelves and bookcases
  a closet that has been converted for storage with roll-out baskets and a space for a filing cabinet
• The house is wired for Comcast cable TV, phone, and broadband internet.
• The house has an ADT security system, which can be monitored for a monthly fee.
• All interior doors are extra wide, except for the guest bathroom.
• The entire house is carpeted with commercial grade carpeting for low rolling resistance, except for the kitchen and entryway, which have hardwood floors.
• There are many items which are negotiable and can stay or go, including:
  a 53" rear-projection high-def ready television
  a Pioneer stereo system with receiver, amp, and "juke-box" with 100 CD capacity
  two 22" computer CRT monitors
  a stocked 45-gallon reef aquarium in a custom unit to hide the plumbing
  two bookcases flanking the reef aquarium
  a stocked 35-gallon freshwater aquarium with filter and pump

Intangibles:

• Very friendly and helpful neighbors across the street who are a husband and wife handyperson team. They are an invaluable resource and have been there for me whenever I needed help. I've hired them for snow removal and yardwork, plus some ad hoc repair jobs. I also hired their daughter to walk my dog. Their rates for these things are extremely reasonable, but by far most of what they've done for me has been for free.
• The VA hospital is a ten-minute drive from here.
• I can recommend my excellent housekeeper, who charges $20/hr, and will do as much or as little as needed. For me, she does just about every chore, including laundry, dishes, changing sheets on the bed, and keeping the cat's litter box tidy. Plus all the normal cleaning service stuff like vacuuming and dusting.
• The house will be available the first week in March. It's definitely "lived-in", but I'd like to show it (by appointment) early, so we can negotiate and cleanup or repairs needed. Rent is negotiable, but I'm looking in the $1500/month range, with the usual terms.

CONTACT: Larry Kubicz at lkubicz@yahoo.com

FREE OFFICE FURNITURE INCLUDING WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE FURNITURE
The Coloardo Cross-Disability Coalition is giving away these items. Our house is near I-25 and University. Craigslist postings are included because they have photos. If you're interested, please call Amy or Tim at 303.917.1870.

Desks & bookstands for person using power wheelchair. http://denver.craigslist.org/zip/743499308.html

Raised desk for person who uses a power wheelchair. Free-standing; includes stand that goes on top of desk with a place for a telephone and bulletin board.

Wall-mounted desk for person who uses a power wheelchair. Does not include legs.

Four two-level bookstands for either desk.

One standing table purchased in the early 1990s. May be missing
parts http://denver.craigslist.org/zip/743501052.html

Two very USED wooden cabinets. These cabinets have been used for storage in our garage, so they're not in great condition and need cleaning. Cabinet on left missing top doors. Both are 48" wide and 60" high. http://denver.craigslist.org/zip/743487580.html

LOOKING FOR ACCESSIBLE CONDO IN DOWNTOWN DENVER
Can afford most downtown places, but needs access, security and a roll-in shower. If anyone knows of a place, e-mail Kevin Williams at kwilliams@ccdconline.org.