An Accessible Model House for Demonstrating an Independent Living Environment

Alexis Welch, Ahmaad Randall, Amy Harmon Ying Sun, Ph.D.

Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881

Background: Although many assistive devices (AD) for daily living exist, lack of public awareness of
ADs and limited modes of AD orientation hinder the ability of disabled individuals to make fully
educated decisions on a solution that meets their needs. The conventional alternatives of facilities and
personal care professionals commonly lower sense of independence and quality of life. This project aims
to provide a mode of introducing available ADs and exhibit how they can be operated in a patient’s home.
Method: ​A two-story home with a kitchen storage assembly was modeled using a scaled-down,
3-dimensional house made from foam board. This model was created to demonstrate the integration of
automated wheelchair lift and light switch systems in a standard home design. The automation involved
the design of an Android application, 3D-printed pulley system components, and a pneumatic pump
system integrated with the wheelchair lift pulley system and electrical circuitry. A microprocessor was
used to allow remote control of the light switch circuitry and wheelchair lift circuitry using an Android
tablet order for the Android device application to wirelessly control the systems ​Results: ​The figure
displays a schematic of the model house and a diagram of the system components to demonstrate the
architectural, physical, and electrical design specifications. The diagram of the shelf-lowering countertop
displays the physical design specifications and functionality of an adapted storage and countertop option.
In addition to the design specifications of each component of the model, the pulley system assembly
design displayed demonstrates how the wheelchair lift is operated through a mechanical system which can
be controlled by the electrical system. ​Conclusion: These technologies have the potential to allow an
individual living in an assisted living facility to be able to transition to their own private home and can
allow individuals already living in their own home to have a reduced need for a support professional. The
Model House provides an interactive example of the different ways technology can be used to adapt a
conventionally-built home into an independent living environment for individuals with disabilities.