MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Panhandle will build its first Americans with Disabilities Act compliant home this spring.
The home will be for Mike Unger’s son, Shane Unger, who has Spina bifida and uses a wheelchair to move about.
Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Eastern Panhandle, Ed Grove, says they need to build a house that is fully accessible for Shane, so they are working closely with him to make sure all of his needs are met.
Grove says, “I will admit this is a learning curve for our whole staff here, so we’re kinda coming up with new insights every day. It’s been interesting to talk to Shane, and to ask him ‘What is it that you can and can’t reach? What is it that you can and can’t do?’ He told us that a wide hallway is good, but a hallway wide enough for him to be able to completely turn a wheelchair around in would be ideal.”
As well as a wide hallway, Grove and his organization have taken other measures into consideration, such as where to place electrical outlets and doors, optimizing shelving space, and making sure to have a front load washer and dryer to name a few.
“We always remind him, this is your home, so we want to make it clearly affordable, but also built with his needs in mind.” Grove continued.
The house will be built in Habitat for Humanity’s Auburndale subdivision off Humanitarian Way in Martinsburg, and will be the 6th house on the lot that can potentially hold 25 houses.
Grove also thanked the City of Martinsburg, as well as all 25 United Methodist Churches in the area for their continued support.
Habitat hopes to get started on the project in May, or even as early as April if scheduling permits.