Using the Kitchen Sink and Countertops

• The height and depth of normal kitchen sinks often prove to be obstacles for stroke survivors with limited movement. A roll-under sink allows a person in a wheelchair to approach the sink with the chair facing the sink, as it provides room for one’s knees to fit underneath. Covered or insulated pipes are needed to prevent leg burns. Lowering the height of the sink can also increase the accessibility of the sink for a person in a wheelchair, but must be high enough for the person’s knees to fit under the sink. In addition, a shallow sink can be helpful for a person in a wheelchair, as it does not require the person to reach down too far. If the sink has a roll-under space, the shallow sink may also allow for more legroom underneath the sink. Lever handles allow a person to turn water on and off with the use of a fist or arm movement rather than finger movements or grasping.

• The height of countertops can be modified for a person in a wheelchair as well, since the standard countertop height of 36 inches is usually too high for a person to reach from a seated position. Counters of different heights may provide spaces for all household members to use in the kitchen. Roll-under countertops, like roll-under sinks, allow a person in a wheelchair or standard chair to more easily work at the countertop in a seated position.