Livingston Reporting - page 337

SBA – Helping Small Business Owners Obtain Lending

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Business owners are regular people just like you and I.  They run into situations that require more capital then they have.  How does an entrepreneur come up with funds when their small business is in need? This may happen in opening a small business or may present itself during an expansion whenever the need arises it is important to be aware of what you will need in order to prove to a commercial lender that you are a secure investment.

The small business association or SBA provides a lot of information on lending as well as tips and solutions for things that come up with running a business.  One issue they cover in great detail is lending.  There are several issues that can arise when a small business owner is looking for a business loan.  Do you have the means to pay the loan back?  Can you prove it to a lender and how?  Clarifying a need for money and what they lent money will be used for is also needed.  It is important to remember that lenders want to lend money but need to know that they are making a wise investment lending it to you.  Your goal is to prove to them you are a worthwhile risk.  The question is how one goes about proving this.

The SBA recommends that business owners have key information ready and available at all times for investors and lenders.  People are rarely prepared to ask for money when the need arises so it is important as a business owner to be prepared at all times.   The first step involves gathering information in the form of financial documents and a business plan to show lenders business goals and that you are a risk worth taking.  The next thing they will need to know is that the business has the means to repay the loan.  With cash flow data you will be able to prove to lenders that you have substantial resources to back up the loan.

Small business owners are at a disadvantage in some ways because they personally can be held liable for business debts.  Often small business owners will need to not only prove the businesses financial means but also their personal means.  Commercial lenders might be interested in seeing past tax returns that the business has filed and will also be interested in the company’s credit ratings.   It is good for business owners to pull a credit reporting of their business every six months to check for discrepancies and to look for areas to improve on the credit rating.  Higher credit ratings will ease a company’s ability to receive a loan because your credit rating is evidence to commercial lenders of debts that have been paid in a timely fashion.  However a poor credit rating will do the opposite so you want to make sure that your businesses credit rating is in check before applying for a loan.

The SBA is an association that offers guidance to many small business owners throughout the United States.  With the economy in a rut as it is now many people are afraid to take a risk in opening a small business.  It is important to look into organizations such as the SBA for help with not only fiscal decisions but also with guidelines to help make your business a success right from the start.  Make sure you stay on the right path in your business venture and access organizations and groups that will help you achieve this goal for the ultimate reward…success!

Ask 4 Funding

A Lesson On Vacuuming

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My vacuum is one of my most prized belongings.  The kids are not allowed to use it and my husband well he is as bad as the kids so no.  I selfishly leave the vacuum chore for strictly me.  I feel like this is really the part of the house that I have complete control over, maintaining the carpet.  I am a stain removal queen and think of the carpet cleaners as friends.  The carpet was the one home renovation I wanted and had to budget for when we moved in.  Carpet is not cheap, actually there are very few inexpensive floor covering now a days so I plan to make it last forever.

My cleaning rituals are like everyone else’s. We farm out daily duties to each of the kids such as empting trash cans and the dishwasher.  Every other day I vacuum the entire house.  This takes about twenty minutes but after I am done the whole house feels cleaner.  I also am able to look for a treat stains that have occurred without my knowledge.  This is super helpful because they have not set in so I can still remove them without having to call the professional carpet cleaners in.

Once a week our home is put through the deep clean ringer.  My children are in charge of dusting and picking up their rooms and closets.  My husband and I take on mopping the floors and laundry.  While my husband is tackling items in the garage that have meandered out of their spots I vacuum the wall to wall carpet. I take time to do the areas next to the walls and baseboards with the crevice tool.  This removes any build up that has occurred and then once all the dust is gone from the baseboards the kids have fun spraying and washing them with cleanser.

When vacuuming I break the rooms up into sections.  I find it is easier to do a thorough job when I can concentrate on one smaller area instead of worrying about the entire room all at the same time.  It also allows my focus to be within the area really looking to see if dirt is building up or a stain has appeared.  The entrance to the living room directly next to the front door is the biggest problem area.  This area needs regular maintenance to prevent any type of build up to occur.  I often put the vacuum on low and turn the rotating brush off in this area to get a tight suction allowing sand to be pulled deep from the carpet.

Other areas that require special care are in front of places people sit and places that we walk all the time, such as hallways.  What I do for these areas is vacuum in different directions.  This causes the pile to be moved differently and helps loosen the dirt to the surface.  Traditional horizontal and vertical vacuum techniques should be switched up with a crisscross pattern often to keep the carpet pile fresh.

Professional carpet cleaners will tell you that your carpets should be cleaned twice a year.  Going into the holiday season in mid October and again in mid April is the most common times to have carpets cleaned. I however feel that with regular vacuuming, maintenance and prevention that your carpets can be professional cleaned once a year and still maintain their original look and feel.   I love a throw placed by all exits and entrances.  Prevention is the most important step you can take in maintaining a spot free carpet.

True Cleaning

Small Business Help In The Form Of An Unsecured Business Loan

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How has the economy affected your small business?  Many business owners, large and small, are scaling back whether on employee benefits, laying employees off, reducing inventory or asking the government for help.  With companies making cut backs society is also left to make changes.  Banks are stricter with who they lend money too and credit is tougher to receive.  The expansion of small businesses in this economic environment becomes incredibly difficult and leads to many owners calling it quits.

There is one major thing between those businesses who will succeed and those that will fail…capital.  Many small business owners are getting by with unsecured business loans.  With this type increase in funds small businesses can make changes to increase profits and pull themselves into economic recovery.  Unsecured business loans can help by providing a flexible, instant boost of cash flow to help with advertising, expansion, equipment purchases, employee retention and many other situations that can arise along with business ownership.

As with any business decision that is made there are advantages and disadvantages.  The same is true when deciding to get an unsecured business loan. You will want to look into all aspects of the lending process along with institutions that offer these services.  Look at the reasons that you are seeking the loan and what value it will bring to the business verse the risks involved with borrowing funds that you don’t have on hand to pay back.

Advantages

1)      A business owner is not required to pull money out of their own pocket as a deposit. Although some loan companies will require an initial fee of an amount under a hundred dollars to go through the loan process.

2)      Unsecured business loans are great for businesses with high credit rankings but have limited cash.  This is why during recessions unsecured business loans are so ideal.

3)      Cash advances are allowed to be pulled from the loan when needed.

4)      Repayment of the loan helps build good credit and with flexible repayment options payment plans can be worked easily into a business’s accounts payable.

5)      The application process and approval time are quick and this can help small business owners turn their businesses around in little to know time.

Disadvantages

1)      Often time’s interest rates are a bit higher than conventional secured loans.

2)      The repayment plan is shorter than most loans and there are maintenance fees.

3)      An unsecured business loan is often handed out in smaller amounts than secured loans.

A small business that can weather rough financial times and preserver is ahead of the game.  As long as business owners remain realistic and flexible they should be met with long term success.  With the assistance of an unsecured business loan small business owners with ambition and drive can manage to stay competitive through rough market times and grow during the rebound. Part of growing any business is risk taking and knowing when to call the bluff or fold on the economy.  Playing the game of small business owner is not for the faint of heart that is for sure.

Ask 4 Funding

Easy Steps In Repairing Storm Damage To Vinyl Siding

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The weather has been so unpredictable lately.  Storms are ripping through the area leaving paths of destruction.  Many homes have had damaged that is too minor to file an insurance claim.  In this case homeowners are on their own to make repairs.  My home falls into this category.  Not only do we have issues with flood waters occasionally, we live on a river, we have an abundance of large trees in our yard that storms wreak havoc with.

The last heavy rain we had had brought several large branches down in are yard.  One of them actually took a large chunk out of our siding.  The storm damage to our home was minimal in comparison the tree that fell on our neighbor’s car.  We still had to take care of it but we were thankful it was something small to deal with.

There are minor obstacles involved with the repair of siding.  First you must make sure you purchase siding to match the existing color and size of the current siding.  In our case this was not hard.  The previous owner stored some in the garage.  The only problem we had was that the coloring was a bit off due to the sun fading the house.  Really not a huge problem for us because the area we were working on repairing was minimal. Many home maintenance stores will have siding samples that can be brought home for comparison.

My spouse and I are novices when it comes to home repairs.  We were able to use basic tools we already had for this job.  The first thing we did was remove the broken pieces of siding.  To do this we used a utility knife and a framing square.  This provided a straight edge and gave us a guide for the knife.  We cut the siding with an inch on both sides to spare and proceeded to pull it away from the house cutting it on the bottom.  Snips area great tool to have on hand as well as a zip tool for home improvement projects. A zip tool can be used to go up the backside of the siding to remove the nails with the siding.

We measured the piece of siding that came out and using our framing square and utility knife cut out a section of new siding to fill in the existing hole. We made sure our measurement include a half inch overlap on either side.  Our thinking was that this would prevent any weather damage from occurring behind the siding because access would not be granted to water, snow or rain. Thankfully damage did not extend beyond the siding to the actual house. We were lucky that we did not uncover any deeper issues.

The installation was super simple.  We slid it into the area and tapped in a few roofing nails.  The siding was good to go and blended fairly well considering that the house had been in the sun for awhile longer than the siding.  If this problem exists for you and your issue is in a more noticeable spot on the house you may consider removing a piece of siding in a more inconspicuous spot to cover the damaged area.  The older piece with camouflage right in around the other siding and the new piece will be somewhere inconspicuous.

If after this reassurance that vinyl siding repair after storm damage is easy even for a novice you are not convinced call in a local handyman.  This is a rather minor job that should be able to be completed in under an hour or two, depending on the size of the affected area.  Storm damage is not preventable.  However it is not always massive and can often be dealt with by an individual homeowner.  Professionals are available to assist you if the storm damage that affects your home is more than just a piece of bunked up siding.

Go Maher

Security For Your Home With An Automatic Gate

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Security is a large issue for many families.  The feeling of safety within ones home is of the utmost importance.  How do you go about creating a safe environment for your family and home?  One way that people are finding security and peace is through the use of automatic gates and fences.

When thinking about installing an automatic gate and metal fence around your yard there are a few questions to ask yourself.  It is true that steel fences and automatic gates have gone down in price relative to previous decades however still is a major home renovation that needs thought given to it.  Before signing the papers and having fence companies out to give you a quote there are a few things to think about.

First thing is why would you think your home is better off having a gate?  This answer can vary greatly.  One reason is for the extra sense of security it gives in keeping unwanted visitors out.  It also helps to restrict the boundaries for animals and small children.  Automatic fences that are closed send a strong signal to keep out.  You make yourself less of a target for thieves.

Another thing to ask yourself is if you need a gate that is automatic or can you live with a manual gate?  How often do you anticipate the gate being closed?  If the answer is every time someone enters or exists the answer is clear.  Although if you are only going to close the gate when the kids are in the yard or when you are on vacation the answer is going to need some more thought.  Automatic gates are much pricier than manual gates because the access system used to control them are expensive.

Another thing to think about is the space the fence will be used in.  Are you looking at a fence that will slide or swing?  Sliding fences take up less space and give full access to the yard when coming in and out.  Swing fences take up space within the yard and need room to swing open and closed.  A lot of what you choose will be determined on the layout of your driveway.  If you are on a large slope a sliding gate is obviously more practical then a swing gate.

With your fence and gate what type of style do you desire?  Ultimate privacy is given using a paneled fence while ultimate aesthetic beauty comes from ornate steel fences.  This will depend a lot upon the look, feel and what you wish the fence to accomplish.

Another thing you will want to look into is if you want a fence that works on hydraulics which offers owners a quiet entrance and exit. This of course comes with an expense. A cheaper more sound defiant system is one in which an electro mechanical system is used.

What controlled access system is appropriate for your gate?  Will you choose something that automatically recognizes your voice, remote control or keypad?  The options are endless and really require you to think about how easy you want the access to be.

Another thing to take into consideration is the little ones you are trying to protect.  Do you need a fence that offers special safety features?  If so what cameras or sensors?  Automatic gate options have grown.  With technology advancing so rapidly you are sure to find one that fits your budget and need.

SAC Fence

Purchasing A Wheelchair Accessible Home

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Looking for a new home is time consuming and downright painful.  Imagine however if you were looking for a home that needed to be handicap accessible. Your laundry list of requirements is totally different than the average homeowner.  It is important to find a home that can be easily altered to become wheelchair accessible if you have not found one that is already suited for the needs a wheelchair imposes.

Requirements to make a home more wheelchair friendly start with the entrances and exits of a home.  In order for a home to be accessible there must be at least one entrance equipped with a wheelchair accessible ramp.   It is a good idea that you make all of the homes exits and entrances safe for wheelchairs to provide comfort for the individual to get in and out easily.  It is easier than one might think to add a ramp off the deck in a backyard and to add threshold ramps to garage entrances and exits.  Also, wheelchair accessible ramps are made to enhance the beauty to any front porch area.  The more ways to get in and out of the home the safer and more comfortable a wheelchair bound individual will feel.

In dealing with exits and entrances it is important to remember the width of a wheelchair and the turn radius required to move freely in and out.  Make sure all door and hallways, including vestibules are at least thirty-six inches to provide adequate space for wheelchairs and walkers to maneuver.  If hallway doors are too tight it can help to reverse the swing of the door out to provide an extra few inches through the doorways to rooms throughout the house.

Wheelchair access throughout the home is only one issue that handicap people face within their own homes.  Issues that are just as important are items such as accessible electrical outlets, accessible smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, along with making sure fire extinguishers are all within reach of a wheelchair user.  Simple tweaks can make sure that items are made to be convenient for all household users.  Smoke detectors can be wired into the wall and outlets can be placed higher up making the reach less of a burden.

I mentioned earlier wheelchair accessible ramps and think it is important to also mention that outside ramps will need to be maintained in regards to snow and ice.  There are two ways in which this can be done, manually or by installing special heat coils designed especially for the prevention on snow and ice build-up.  Otherwise ramps become obstacles not only for the member of your household in a wheel chair but also those maneuvering the ramp by foot.  Keeping a clear path in and out of your home is of up most importance.

In keeping your home accessible for wheelchair use it is important to remember that rugs and carpet add to the difficulty of maneuvering.  Furniture should be place so that a thirty-six inch path is clear with a turning radius of at least five feet.  The more open the floor plan, with the least amount of clutter is the best option for a home that needs to be handicap accessible.  Threshold ramps can be installed to make transitions less difficult from room to room.

A home that is wheelchair compatible would have a wish list of a thousand things to make life easier.  Levered door handles, roll in showers, removable shower heads, grab bars and appliances only those with front controls and front access however we know this is not always going to be possible right off the bat when purchasing a home.  When the search begins narrow your must haves down to include a list of things that a home can have that can be easily converted.  The house might not come all together but at least make the work that you need to put into it minimal with purchasing a house that comes with tools that will make it easier.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Are You Ready To Run?

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Being a novice in a sport is one of the hardest parts about getting involved in something new.  My girlfriends challenged me in a five kilometer race two years ago and I was beyond nervous.  Not only am I not a runner I had no idea what I would need to do to start.  I see people running daily and they seem to have all of this technical running gear where should I turn to get started?  I know what you are thinking, ‘Just put one foot in front of the other, and stride a bit wider than a walk, go!’ However, I found running is not as easy as it sounds.

I began my running gear quest at a local store that sold only merchandise associated with running.  At first it was a bit intimidating but going in I realized they were so excited to have a novice to teach all about the sport of running.  It was a change of pace from their usual clientele.  They directed me to the running shoes where I was immediately confused.  The sales person explained that the shoe was actually the most important part of all the running gear out there.  I saw Asics, Nikes, New Balance and then these alien type Vibram Five Finger shoes.

Seeing that I was just beginning I wanted a shoe that looked the part so even thought the sales person explained the benefits of having the more natural, true to form Vibram Five Finger shoes I leaned towards a more traditional Asics shoe.  It had traction, support, durability and fir my foot like a glove.  I was so happy I started my search here with this knowledgeable staff to support my purchase.

The next item we addressed was my chest.  The last thing I needed was to blow a shoulder out because of improper support.  Unfortunately the running shop could not assist in this because they only sold bras in smaller sizes which I preceded to chat with the sales person about. I think he realizes that not all women interested in running are an A or B cup.  It turned out I needed more than a little compression style sports bra I was fitted with a sports bra that had two cups one to hold up each breast.  With that finally taken care of we were on to the rest of my running apparel.

I was able to choose breathable materials for both the pants and top that would remove the moisture from my skin as I glistened my way through each run.  I was all set now to get to the actual motion of running and training for our race.  I will not lie, I looked really good. The running gear was great; my body however was as soar as it had ever been.  My shins stung, I perspired way more than a glisten and I found I was icing parts of my body I did not know existed.  However I love it!  Maybe I will be buying those more natural true to form Vibram Five Finger shoes.

Elite Feet Running

Journey Into Buying Running Gear

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When you are interested in trying a new sport what is the first thing you do?  I know I look for the gear to go with the sport.  That is why when I was challenged to take part in a five kilometer race in November I started to seek out advice on the running gear I would need.  Right off the bat I found the two essential things I would come to need were a supportive bra and the right pair of shoes.

I thought I would have no problems.  I would go to any store get a pair of tennis shoes and a sports bra and I would be on my way.  Of course that is not how it happened but I thought it would.  The bra was an entire issue all itself.  Not all runners have an A or B cup but the bras available in stores would have you assuming they do.  I did have to special order a style online and am happy with the choices available to me.  Shoes were abundant but I found finding the right pair for my foot and running style were a bit trickier.

Thankfully I had help from knowledgeable staff members. The first thing I was told was that I needed to narrow down the pronation of my foot when running.  Thankfully I had worn my old tennis shoes.  From them they were able to determine that I had a pretty uniform wear pattern.  This meant that I was going to be choosing a stability style running shoe.

Had the staff noticed that I tended to wear out the inside of my shoe they would have recommended a motion control shoe specifically designed for a foot that has little to no arch that would typically result in wear on the inside portion of a shoe.  On the other hand had I wore out the outside of my shoe I would have had to look into cushioned running shoes which help to offer extra support to people with incredibly high arches.  A low arch means are naturally going to be an overproator and a high arch means that you are an underpronator.  I have a neutral pronation which means my foot offers perfect proportion; the middle arch width is equivalent to the width of the connection between my heels and toes.

In order to find the perfect pair of shoes I was told to come back later in the afternoon after I had done some mild walking.  This would allow for the natural expansion that a foot goes through as the day progresses.  This makes sense also because as I run my foot will expand.  I also went out and bought socks that had moisture wicking qualities and brought them back with me later that afternoon.

The sales person was great and I felt he asked all the right questions in my quest for running shoes.  I had never given any thought to running shoes so I was happy to have his assistance. His questions revolved around my novice status; he wanted to know how many miles I planned on running, what was the ground going to be like that I was running on, my weight and also about any past foot issues.

With this information he measured each of my feet and pulled shoes to help me find a perfect fitting shoe.  I was told a perfect fit would include a thumbs width between my big toe and the front of the shoe.  Also, that the width should fit like a glove not too snug but not at all loose. The heel should not move and the laces should be tied without causing irritation to the top portion of my foot.

After trying on multiple styles I narrowed my quest down to two different shoes.  I was lucky because the store I went to had a treadmill to run on to try the shoes out before purchasing.  It was lucky that I did this because the pair that was more appealing to my eye and would have won the contest was not the perfect shoe for me.  Putting in my first few miles was torture but not because of improper foot wear.  My body took time to adjust to running but my feet were fabulous with my new running gear.

Elite Feet Running

Obtaining Loan Company Worthiness

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There are many reasons people need a loan.  However it is not something that is dealt with on a daily basis so people often don’t have the information needed to make informative decisions regarding a loan company.  Whether a loan is needed for the purchase of a home, home improvements, a car, school or getting a business started banks and credit unions are loan companies willing to lend to those who show credit worthiness.

Loan companies must determine if the risk is worth the reward in lending money.  Of course the risk is that a client may not be able to pay the loan back and the reward is the money they will earn on the interest paid.  How do loan companies determine a client’s risk?  It will help you in obtaining a loan to know what lenders are looking for.  Education is the key is making the loan process less difficult and you will be more likely to be approved and at a better rate.

The first bit of information that is crucial in getting a loan approved is your credit history which creditors determine with your credit rating.  It is imperative that you keep track of your credit by obtaining a copy of your history report a couple of times a year.  It is easier to change errors that have been submitted when they are recent.  It will also help keep you in track to improving your credit score if you are aware of what information is being reported.  Credit scores can be raised based on the timely fashion your payments are made.  Makes sure you are paying all bills before they are do and that you are not keeping overly high balances open on accounts. These are all ways to keep your credit score high and new loan interest rates low.

It is also important in obtaining a loan that you are aware of your current and future financial situation.  You will have to prove employment history and also your financial accounts.  Often time’s lenders will request information on investments, checking and savings information and outstanding debts.  This information will help lenders access your debt to income ratio.  This tells them a lot about your ability to pay a loan back.  For larger items such as homes and cars it is always wise to have a down payment to go along with the request for a loan.  This shows lenders that you are responsible a trustworthy.  Money in savings and a good credit score are two major factors in determining your interest rate, the amount of money it will cost you to borrow funds.

If you are new to the world of credit how do you work on obtaining a credit history?  This is often the tricky part of lending.  If you have not been allowed to establish credit history then how do you get credit?  The answer is simple, a co-signer.  This is a person, maybe a parent or relative that has an established credit history that backs your financial obligation by offering to pay the loan back if the loan is defaulted on.  Another way that you can work to establish history is by offering collateral.  Maybe you have equity established within a rental home that grandma and grandpa gave to you upon their passing.  You can use the equity as collateral to help improve your chances of gaining credit until you find yourself more established in the rat race of lending.

Ask 4 Funding

Creating Independence For A Handicapped Loved One

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When we found out my father had a stroke we were devastated.  As the patriarch of our family he always provided support for all of us.  How in the world are we going to be able to take care of him? Seeking out the right support was important for my mother and fathers needs.  We needed to make sure the house was in order and accessible for his wheelchair and that he could be as independent as possible.  Multiple times he told us that he would rather pass away then to become dependent on anyone else.  We knew in order to keep his sanity along with moms things in the house needed to change.

We got advice from other wheelchair users and found many independent people that are mobile dependant on a wheelchair.  Their tips help narrow down specific targets for us to take care of out of the gate.  Knowing that we will have other modifications down the road does not scare us it is just the knowledge that his perception upon coming home has to be that of an independent lifestyle or he will fall into a depression.

The bathroom was the first area of interest.  We knew this is where my father would want the most independence and privacy.  We started by removing the bathroom door and replacing it with a curtain that easily glides closed.  Next we replaced his low lying toilet with a new toilet designed with extra height for the ease of transferring it would provide him.  Installed on the side of the toilet was a grab bar that was actually bolted to the floor for the ultimate amount of stability.   Next a removable shower head was put into place along with a bath chair and new easy to maneuver faucets.  The sink was at an acceptable height already but the turn knob faucet was replaced with a levered one and removed the cabinet doors so that we could “pull” right in.

People warned us that carpet would be difficult for his wheelchair to maneuver on.  To remedy this we went out and purchased plastic floor runners and strategically placed them throughout their home.  The throw rugs that had been placed around the house were removed.  The plastic will make sure the wheelchair is met with little resistance when moving about the home.

My father did not want to sleep apart from my mother.  He convinced us that a hospital bed was not in his best interest and we agreed.  In order to help him get in and out of bed we had another grab bar installed into the floor along the side of his bed. A large platform was constructed to help him transfer onto the bed without too large of a gap between the bed and the wheelchair.

Getting in and out of his home was another issue.  We purchased a metal handicap ramp.  This was easily installed and will not only be easier for my dad but as my mom ages will take pressure off her knees that the stairs would present in the future.  Handicapped ramps were easy to find and inexpensive.  For the door walls in the home we were able to purchase mini handicapped ramps called threshold ramps.  The thresholds will not be an obstacle with these in use.

In order to keep him active on his computer and crosswords we bought larger size writing utensils and an extra large button keyboard. We were also informed that fine motor skills would be difficult so purchased an electric can opener and an electric jar opener so that he could cook independently.  It was also brought to our attention that a crock pot would be the easiest way to cook for him and a food processor instead of a cutting board.  The other thing we did is bought him a cell phone so that he could use the speaker and could take it around with him as he goes about the house.

Truly the point of looking into making the house more accessible for his wheelchair is to make him independent.  My mom is not home all the time when he is around and will not be able to cater to his every whim and he really would not like this even if she was.  There will be things that come up that are not a simple as installing a handicapped ramp or levered faucet and we will be there to come up with unique solutions to keep him mobile and independent.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor