Author: Sheri Denkensohn-Trott
In general, most people do not like moving. But when you have a disability, moving is disruptive, challenging, and full of unique obstacles. It is likely one of life’s most stressful events. I’m going through it
now so I can assure you that the feeling is real.
Most people want to know where things are in their home and have some semblance of control when they need to find something. If you have a disability, that control is limited and becomes even more tenuous when the chaos of moving begins. Yes, you can box things by category so it is easier to unpack, but when you have a disability like mine, being a quadriplegic, someone else is doing the packing. I feel like a director of a very horrible sounding symphony. Trying to keep things in order, knowing that certain items will get mixed, trying to throw away and donate things that are not needed, and then putting everything in a place where you don’t bump into it with your wheelchair is a challenge.
There is also all the logistics. Not being able to move the tiniest thing by yourself requires help of others. Most people get their friends to help them move big items and feed them pizza. Well, it’s not that easy. Some items, in our case furniture and planters on our terrace had to be moved, so a company was called in to help. That is just the start. All of the boxes, clothing, televisions, computers, and a very important bed with a multitude of electronics will need to go on “the big moving day.” This creates an additional level of stress.
That’s just the preparation. All while decluttering, packing, and getting rid of items, other activities need to take place. This includes interview of realtors, deciding what needs to be fixed and lining up individuals to do that, and hoping that it will all work out seamlessly.
Additionally, there is the responsibility of making sure everything is ready where you are moving to. Not just ready for when you arrive, but in the interim ensuring that accessibility modifications are made correctly. Advance planning so that you can get into your bed the night you arrive. Many important actions may need to wait until you move in. This includes shelving to hold necessary medical equipment, storage bins, furniture, and likely unanticipated needs. And once you arrive and start to see what you need, the organization when you unpack begins. Time for the director of the symphony to reappear.
No move is easy. When you have a disability, moving is monumental filled with potential pitfalls. You can’t spend your day worrying about them, only doing what you can to hopefully ameliorate them from occurring. Prepare, implement, and execute, and with the help of others hope that you come out with a smile on your face when you have 
had time to settle in once you reach your new home.
Whatever happens, we will make it work. Will it be seamless? Probably not, but we’re not sissies either.
that of accessibility of a shower. Please note that the picture to the right is not our shower, it is an AI generated picture from the Adobe website!
the bars, should they be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, and there are more questions involved such as height. I have seen websites that purport to be experts on placement of grab bars and say things like, “Never place a grab bar diagonally.” The best advice about grab bar placement and accessible shower design in general is to make sure to get user perspective.
more user-friendly and don’t take up physical space. I attacked two full drawers of files thinking it would be tedious, but not expecting that it would be emotional. It’s only papers, right?
awful times. Included were notes written by my now deceased sister, who was my rock throughout every health crisis. Papers with her handwriting listing questions to doctors, notes with the names and phone numbers of friends, and other notes to herself. I found it hard to push forward without getting emotional.
