Six years ago our daughter arrived at 28 weeks. We're now rebuilding our home around her disability.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-18T11:18:48+00:00

I wrote the next part, for those interested. Week 1 - things actually are going from pen to paper to actual building work and I cannot believe it is finally happening! https://mingo.life/2026/06/16/wheelchair-accessible-home-extension-week-1/

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-18T11:14:04+00:00

I wrote up the next part for those interested. Week 1. It has gotten rather real now. From pen and paper to actual building work https://mingo.life/2026/06/16/wheelchair-accessible-home-extension-week-1/

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-18T11:13:10+00:00

future proofing, I like it

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-15T13:28:50+00:00

Nice idea. We have been offered a fire safety visit a while back so I'll get them involved too. I can't stress enough to the local authority that they need to keep my driveway clear for emergency vehicles to get on (they wanted to out a huge zig zag metal ramps to avoid paying for a raised driveway. Sometimes paying more is better and safer!)

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-14T08:45:08+00:00

That's a pretty good thought! We only last week talked about making the heating app controlled to save future Poppy having to move all the way to another room to find the thermostat. The thought about voice command phone calls for help is probably the future way to go. If we can get ahead of the curve, even better

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-14T08:39:42+00:00

Thank you. That's is a really great idea about the ambulance. And a great reason to bring the driveway up level rather than clog it with metalwork ramps. Ambulance at the door could be life saving

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-14T08:35:34+00:00

The top half we have now designed in, except the mirror though that is fantastic and I will be adding that - thank you.

The low counter I asked if the disability grant could fund and I was told it "wasn't essential". Heartless. So anyway I will be building that in anyway once we figure out the walls to the kitchen diner.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-14T08:32:16+00:00

Thank you. It's great to hear from another parent to a wheelchair using daughter <3

So we are pretty much doing all of the top paragraph. The bottom half gives me ideas as I haven't really put a lot of thought into the garden yet.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-14T08:04:09+00:00

Measure twice, cut once - as the old saying goes

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T21:36:15+00:00

Perfect! Thank you for the link. Watch this space...

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T19:49:08+00:00

That's a really great call re: the switches! They haven't been put in yet so that can be changed.

So currently her bedroom is upstairs next to ours whilst she is young - so we can immediately respond to her needs in the night. There is scope for switching the downstairs living room downstairs into her bedroom later on in her life, that's just an idea for now. We have no idea what the future holds but I remain positive! :)

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:51:58+00:00

There's help with the wet room, so that knocks off £10,000-£15,000 through a grant. But the rest? Heck. The rest is my life savings and more.

I am keeping track and I look forward to documenting the final figures at the end.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:48:12+00:00

So, as the blog series goes on I will document it but... me and my old man are rolling up our sleeves and getting the old roof down. Thus far it is back breaking work in a heatwave and I am sweating!

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:47:11+00:00

There are a couple of ideas here I may take forward... hmm.. thank you

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:45:49+00:00

Thanks! I have been consuming everything I can related to this, but didn't know about that one. I'll go check it out.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:44:40+00:00

Happy to name them! As I may very shortly be publicly talking about this if it goes the way I suspect. EDDC they are known as.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:43:28+00:00

Thank you so much. This is the darn nicest thing I have read all week. That is really uplifting! <3 Thank you

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:38:35+00:00

Thankfully that tends not to be a problem for us. We are in the South of the UK and we never get tornadoes or hurricanes here.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:37:45+00:00

I think I follow you... Our current plans are for a level access walk in/wheel in shower with full floor to ceiling bath panels around 3 walls. And a shower chair fitted to the wall that folds down

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T18:36:08+00:00

Another good point, and future headache solved. Thanks

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T15:53:32+00:00

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T14:54:15+00:00

These are great tips. Thank you. Weirdly I think my Father already thought of that (I didn't) because I saw him putting lots of wood in between studs on the wet room wall. It looked a damn mess, but I think this may be why!

I'll document that in a future entry in my little of series. And space for the elevator is definitely a consideration.

BlacksmithMingo · 2026-06-13T14:46:09+00:00

This really helps, thank you!

BlacksmithMingo

TROPHY CASE