Basic Organizing for Disabilities
by Suzanna Letchford

Organizing your home is a challenge, but this can be compounded when you have to also consider the needs of a family member with a disability. Whether it is a physical, emotional or mental disability it will greatly impact the choices you make in organizing. There are many considerations depending on the situation; one of the best ways to organize for someone with a physical disability is to put yourself in their place.

For a wheelchair- sit in a rolling chair or in their wheelchair to see how high and low you can place items as well as if the chair can get close enough to reach backs of shelves and closets. Remember any restrictions such as limited arm movement or lessened upper body strength as well. Consider the weight of objects and if they can be lifted easily. If lids are difficult to remove consider using open baskets and bins.

In order to maximize space in the lower cabinets and backs of closets while still enabling easy reach consider using rolling racks, lazy-Susans and rolling carts. A few thin rolling carts placed next to each other in a closet can be rolled out to reach contents easily and a lazy-Susan can move items from the back of a low cabinet to the front easily. Cabinet doors can also be removed to make the space more accessible. To hide the contents you can place a piece of decorative fabric where the doors were to hide the contents. Shelves and hanging storage eliminate the need to stack and un-stack items. Folding or hanging clothing instead of using drawers can also provide easier access.

For vision loss placing yourself in their situation is also advisable. For full blindness the usual blindfold will do. For partial blindness, such as Macular Degeneration, wear glasses with petroleum jelly in a lick layer in the center to see how vision is affected. This may not be entirely accurate but it will give you an idea of shapes and colors and how they can best be used. Storing items in brightly-colored bins can help in locating items. Also make sure to determine one location for the item always return the item to that spot when it is not in use. We develop an amazing ability to remember places and once we have formed the habit of storing an item in a specific position we can usually find it again. Consistency and routine are the key.

When dealing with emotional or mental disabilities consider exactly what limitations your loved one has. For example, many people with ADD/ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and other common disorders cannot handle overstimulation. Make sure to keep spaces simple and clear. Avoid too many decorations on the wall (an ADD child would likely focus better with few posters on the wall and limited items on shelving.) Keep surfaces of dressers and tables as clear as possible with few knick-knacks. Photos and flowers are great but try not to have more than two non-essential items on any surface. Projects should be able to be put away when not being actively used, decorations should primarily be kept on wall shelves and papers should be filed away out of sight. This will reduce the overwhelming amount of visual stimulation and enable our loved ones to focus on tasks at hand more easily.

Enlist the help of your child whenever possible throughout the process. By getting them involved in choosing storage materials and placements of their possessions you help them to invest in the process and the result. They feel a part of ownership of the new system and will be more willing to maintain it.

Using “centers” for specific activities also helps clarify where items are stored and enable quick access. Art centers, cooking centers and grooming centers should be set up to handle the specific project and have all items needed for that project within easy reach. This also helps in remembering where items are stored in the room when cleaning up.

While arranging items in cabinets and closets remember to place things that are used frequently at arm’s length. Place lesser-used objects in higher, lower or hard to reach places. Also, be sure to place heavier ones on lower shelves to prevent injury. There are a large number of organizational tools that can make it easier to reach the things you need such as garage ceiling shelves that lower to ground level to reach bins and boxes easily. A Professional Organizer or space designer who specializes in working with disabilities can offer great suggestions and ensure your living space is arranged in the most accessible ways.

Keeping medications in easy to reach areas and clearly labeled, possibly even using a multi-alarm watch or your cell phone calendar to notify you of medication times can help to avoid missing a dose or taking the wrong dose. Pill organizers are great for checking if you forget whether you took your medication – if the pill is no longer in the appropriate slot you have already taken it.

Keep a 3-ring binder of medical information that you need to bring with you to the doctor as well as emergency information. You can track doctor’s appointments, keep the most current medication info sheets, list important procedures and dates, allergies, contact information and any other pertinent information in one place. This is handy to bring with you to a doctor’s appointment or for a caregiver to grab during a medical emergency.

The home should be a peaceful and safe sanctuary for everyone who lives there. Making it as easy as possible to access belongings and keeping clutter at bay can help everyone to feel comfortable.
For more ideas on organizing, motivating and scheduling for ADD check out my blog at: http://aspacethatworks.blogspot.com/ and www.ASpaceThatWorks.com.


Suzanna is an organizer with a passion! She is owner of A Space That Works Professional Organizing (www.ASpaceThatWorks.com) and works with both businesses and families organizing their homes and lives. She has previously worked with special needs children as an Assistant Teacher in the Autism and Special Education classes of an elementary school and high school. She has also spent years volunteering with special needs children and has training in organizing for disabilities and ADD/ADHD. Passion for the process, creative use of space and a supportive and friendly disposition help her in both home and business organization projects.

Suzanna Letchford, Professional Organizer and owner of A Space That Works Organizing. www.ASpaceThatWorks.com