A Making Homes Accessible Success
Story
A look into the life of Tabitha Melvin, a nine-year-old
who experiences seizures, severe allergies and behavioral delay.
With the assistance of the Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP)
and several programs, Tabitha’s environment has changed from
one that is not suitable to one that is favorable.
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March 2007 marked
the end of a long and at times frustrating process for the Melvins.
A home addition approximately twice as big as it’s original
size was completed, and its benefits though foreseen are now revealing.
ATP first introduced Tabitha to you in its newsletter early last
year when Brad Skiles, ATP Technology Specialist, helped to locate
a tracking device (Ionkid) that would allow her parents, caretakers
and school personnel to give Tabitha freedom to explore, yet know
if she wonders too far from safety. To date Tabitha’s mother,
Jennifer Melvin, continues to use the Ionkid with Tabitha, and said
it works. “It’s annoying (the noise it makes),”
she said, “you definitely know when she has gone too far.”
Once this initial challenge was addressed, Brad realized there were
more obstacles that the Melvins faced. Due to Tabitha’s experience
with seizures and violent temper outbreaks, her younger brother
Aaron Melvin started withdrawing. In addition, Tabitha is terrified
of running water, therefore, showers resulted in Tabitha having
a seizure. The family of four lived in a 700 square foot house that
did not provide the safe space needed for Aaron away from his sister
or the appropriate and accessible bath space needed by Tabitha.
As a result, the family was preparing to sell their home with hopes
to purchase a bigger house with the space they needed. However,
due to the cost of housing in Hershey
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and the thought of moving
away from Jennifer’s mother (who helps care for Tabitha),
it was heart wrenching.
The Making Homes Accessible (MHA) Program is a statewide program
that provides interest free deferred loans for persons with disabilities
and their family to make their home more accessible for
independent living. Brad has helped other families with additions
to their homes and explained the program to Tabitha’s parents.
Once the family was determined eligible for MHA, Brad made recommendations
and designed plans to add an accessible bedroom and bathroom to
the house. The plans not only addressed the preceding challenges,
but also included room for Tabitha’s medical supplies and
equipment and space for Tabitha to calm herself. The family made
the decision to add additional living room space to the home at
the same time and secured private financing.
Total project cost was $28,600. Health and Human Services and
the Aged and Disabled Waiver covered $4,600 for bathroom access
fixtures. The family contributed $8,000 through private financing
and an additional $16,000 through an MHA loan.
The many changes over the last year have resulted in Tabitha spending
more time in the living room on the shaggy carpet or in her closet
playing with her toys as well as swimming in her tub. “Tabitha
absolutely loves her room and bathtub,” said Jennifer. “She
absolutely, absolutely loves it!”
These days Jennifer finds herself not needing to use the Ionkid
with Tabitha as often as before and limits its use to trips to
the children’s hospital and their grandparents’ farm.
Aaron is doing better too, Jennifer said. He has his own space
upstairs, which allows him to be more independent and also helps
him with sharing.
Jennifer was elated to get the chance to work with Brad. Without
Brad, Jennifer said she never would have known about the program
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