Essential Yet Out of Reach: Home Accessibility for Children with Disabilities

Living at home is a right, not a luxury. Children with disabilities and complex medical needs often require specialized equipment, supplies, and home modifications to live safely and comfortably at home. However, many families face challenges identifying and navigating services, paying for home modifications, and accessing the supports they need.

This webinar, the first in a two-part series, introduced Foundation-funded research on the national landscape of programs and policies that support home accessibility for children with disabilities and their families across the country. The session provided an overview of home modifications, including what they are, why they matter, and how they can help improve safety, independence, and family well-being. A panel of experts, including those with lived experience, discussed common barriers to accessing home modifications, the real-world impacts of these supports on children and caregivers, and opportunities for action and advocacy.

Prior to watching the webinar, viewers are encouraged to watch the film Feels Like Home, funded by a Johns Hopkins Discovery Award. Feels Like Home was produced in collaboration with panelist Dr. Rebecca Seltzer and Lauren Arora Hutchinson at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics iDeas Lab, and features panelist Crystal Thomas.

The second webinar will be held in the fall.

This webinar was co-sponsored by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health and the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics.