Seeing Home Differently: Purchasing a Home for Life with a Visual Impairment
As someone with a visual impairment, I’ve learned the importance of choosing accessible environments. I recently purchased my first home and wanted to share some lessons I learned about accessibility and the home-buying process.
One of the most important decisions anyone makes when selecting a home is picking a real estate agent who understands your needs and desires. Of course, you want someone who knows your local market and won’t pressure you to make a decision you aren’t ready for. But as someone living with a visual impairment, I also wanted an agent who had experience helping people with disabilities find a home. I started by speaking with a few agents who mentioned having this expertise on their websites, but I did not find anyone I felt comfortable working with.
Jack and his
guide dog, Baloo
The Right Agent
Thankfully, I asked a friend who is also visually impaired and who had recently moved. He had an excellent referral for an agent whom I contacted and chose to work with. Because of my real estate agent’s knowledge and experience, he was able to help me narrow my search by eliminating areas with poor public transit or limited businesses within a walkable distance. He also helped me identify features that would make my life easier as a visually impaired person, such as green space for my guide dog, nearby access to trails making it easier for me to run with a guide, easy-to-use appliances, and lots of lighting.
I looked at a lot of properties, and it was overwhelming! As I searched, I also discovered several things that would make my life better. I eliminated properties that required renovations. I’m not handy and have no interest in supervising a construction project. I also excluded properties on busy roads because it’s much easier for me to navigate quieter spaces, and I like to avoid noise as much as possible.
Adding Accessibility
I ended up purchasing a first-floor condo, which provides for trouble-free maintenance. It has a large patio, making it easy to take my guide dog outdoors, and it allows me to be outside as much as possible.
Once I moved in, there were a few things I needed to do to make my new home more accessible for me. Some rooms were not as bright as I wanted, so I purchased the brightest LED lightbulbs I could find. I was also tired of having thermostats that I could not control independently. Thankfully, there is a wide selection of thermostats that you can control with an app on your phone. I got an EcoBee thermostat and found the app fully accessible. Finally, I put Braille labels on all my appliances so I can use them independently. The Braille Superstore is a great place to get a Braille label maker and other stickers/labels to make your home more accessible.
I’m thrilled to have my own home and to live in an accessible and comfortable place. I hope my experience gives you some ideas regarding purchasing a home and how to make it more accessible for you or a loved one.