The Complete Guide to Moving With a Disability

Written by This Old House Reviews Team Updated 04/14/2024

Moving can feel overwhelming for anyone, but individuals with a disability have extra considerations on top of the regular process. It requires more thought than a typical relocation because you must pack medical devices, guarantee your new place meets your accessibility needs, and more. However, good planning and preparation can help simplify the move, resulting in a smoother transition to your new home.

We’ve consulted four experts in disability and rehabilitative studies to help you navigate the journey. These experts share valuable insights and practical tips for moving with a disability to ensure the process is seamless and comfortable.

Elizabeth DePoy, Ph.D., professor of interdisciplinary studies and cooperating faculty in mechanical engineering at the University of Maine.

Stephen French Gilson, Ph.D., professor and coordinator of interdisciplinary disability studies at the University of Maine.

Dr. Meghan K. Spriggs, AuD, Associate Clinical Professor of Audiology at UC San Diego.

Dr. Terri Call, OD, Associate Professor and Service Director of the Primary Care Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

How Should You Prepare for the Move?

Moving becomes less daunting when you break it down into steps. This involves a bit of research, making checklists, and making certain accommodations ahead of time.

Below are some essential steps to help you prepare for a successful move.

Research the New Home’s Accessibility

Ensure your new home meets your accessibility needs before moving in. Make your assessment by doing the following:

Creating a home accessibility checklist: It’s wise to determine any modifications that must be made to make the living space accessible for you. This may include updating ramps and slopes or adding a handicap-accessible shower.
Hiring accessibility professionals: You may hire professionals who are well-experienced in completing accessibility modifications to living spaces. This may include accessibility professionals or universal design specialists who can provide home evaluations, construction, and installation services.
Identifying any required modifications: Talk with your landlord to discuss any necessary modifications if you’re renting. You may be required to provide documentation of your disability and a detailed description of the changes you plan to make.
Understanding your rights: Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords are prohibited from discriminating based on disability. Consider seeking advice from an attorney if you anticipate potential issues.

Get Organized

Preparing ahead of time will make your move less stressful. You can get organized before your move by doing the following:

Creating a moving checklist: It will help ensure all your essential tasks are properly noted, and that nothing is overlooked or neglected during the moving process.
Labeling boxes clearly for easy unpacking: Mention what’s inside. Consider using color-coded labels, a numbering system, or clear moving tubs to help you easily recall the boxes’ content.
Arranging transportation of special equipment: Consider factors such as size, fragility, power source, and any specific handling instructions the manufacturer provides.
Informing any insurance companies of the move: Update any insurance policies (life, health, car) with the new address and make necessary coverage adjustments.
Checking with state services: Update your address if you’re on Social Security, so you continue to receive benefits and entitlements.
Keeping your necessary equipment at hand: Your ramps, walkers, or other mobility assistance devices should be easily accessible before, during, and after your move. This will help you navigate your new living space comfortably.

Hire a Moving Company

Look for moving companies with experience providing specialized moving services for disabled individuals. They offer personalized moving plans and trained staff in accessibility and disability awareness to ensure an accessible moving experience. For instance, Miracle Movers and Specialized Movers are reputable options offering tailored support for disabled individuals, such as helping them unpack and set up their new space.

Questions to Ask Movers

Before hiring a moving company, you may ask them:

What financial options and discounts are available? Inquire about pricing structures, payment requirements, and any discounts or special codes that may be applicable.
Do they have experience working with people with disabilities? Ask about the company’s experience in accommodating the specific needs of people with disabilities during their moving process.
Do they offer packing and unpacking services? Explore if they offer specialized packing and unpacking assistance, which can be a time and energy-saver for individuals with disabilities.
Are they equipped to handle the moving of mobility assistance items? Find out whether they have stair climbers, wheelchair lifts, and hoisting systems for carefully handling and transporting medical devices, large instruments, or fragile electronics.

Reserve Accessible Accommodations

Make reservations at wheelchair-accessible hotels along your planned route to ensure comfortable and convenient stays. You can request handicap-accessible seating to accommodate your specific needs when booking flights or train tickets. You can also consider renting an adapted vehicle, such as a wheelchair van, to ensure seamless travel during your journey.

Packing Tips for People With Disabilities

Packing your belongings properly ensures they’re organized and easy to find post-move. It also helps prevent damage from improper packing or items shifting around during transport.

Packing Tips

Create an essentials box/bag: Include daily necessities such as medicines, toiletries, clothes, and linens for a comfortable first week.
Pack at your pace: Moving can be physically and mentally demanding, so it’s important not to overwork yourself. Listen to your body and take breaks as needed.
Consider downsizing: Declutter leading up to the move to avoid packing unnecessary items.

Moving Tips for People With Disabilities

Having a well-planned and accessible moving strategy is crucial to make the process more manageable. DePoy suggests organizing belongings and furniture to maximize safety and mobility, creating a sensory-friendly environment, and assuring the new location meets one’s aesthetic sensibility.

Mobility Disabilities

People with mobility disabilities may require canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. Gilson says, “First assess the living space and plan for what fits and what does not.” He recommends organizing so that any mobility devices can easily navigate the indoor space, egress, and ingress.

Here are other tips to keep in mind:

Keep pathways clear of obstacles: Remove any items or furniture that may impede your movement. Gilson recommends paying close attention to function, comfort, and accessibility.
Use specialized equipment: Consider mobility needs in different settings. Gilson says, “It may be necessary to have different equipment for diverse environments, such as a small walker for an apartment and a scooter for outdoor mobility.” Ensure your new home has adequate storage for your equipment.
Install smart-home equipment: Consider lighting and smart devices for better accessibility. DePoy says, “Adequate lighting with smart features, smart-home devices for keyed entrances, and viewing who might be visiting or entering the home…also improves accessibility.” DePoy recommends cleaning solutions such as a robotic vacuum if it’s within your budget.

Auditory Disabilities

Spriggs says to pack your “hearing essentials” in a convenient and easily accessible bag to make them readily available to you for a smooth transition during your move. This will help you maintain effective communication throughout the moving process.

Below are some additional ways to relieve auditory limitations during a move:

Use written communication: Communicate via text or email rather than phone if you struggle with hearing loss or auditory processing. “When selecting a moving company, determine whether the company is amenable to communicating by text message rather than phone calls. Moving day can be noisy and chaotic. Texting often relieves some of the stress for people who have difficulty understanding on the phone,” says Spriggs.
Use an alternate signaling system: Ensure your carbon monoxide, smoke detectors, or other safety alerts function properly. “If the sound alert is not audible, install an alternate signaling system that uses flashing lights or vibration,” says Spriggs.
Work with an interpreter: Hire a sign language interpreter to help facilitate communication if you struggle with hearing loss.

Visual Disabilities

Individuals with low vision may face challenges reading and handling paperwork, navigating pathways, and performing other moving tasks.

The following steps can help with navigating your move:

Ask for large print contracts: The magnified size and spacing will make for an easier read. Call says, “Ask for a digital copy that can be blown up on a computer screen. Have a sighted friend double-check closing dates and legal paperwork.”
Create a well-lit home environment: Appropriate lighting is crucial in optimizing vision. “Some [of the Primary Care Clinic] patients love large bay windows that let in as much sunlight as possible; others find sunlight to cause painful glare and rely on excellent, bright interior lighting instead. Whichever is most comfortable for you, make sure you choose a place that can accommodate that preference,” says Call.
Braille label maker: Create tactile labels by embossing braille characters to help better identify and organize items in your new home.
Make a furniture placement map: Incorporate tactile elements or use high-contrast colors to make the space more perceptible for individuals with low vision.

Traveling to Your New Home

Having a well-planned travel itinerary is crucial when traveling with a disability. The goal is to minimize the likelihood of hiccups along the way. It will also help you travel with peace of mind to your new home.

Traveling Recommendations

Flying with a disability: Request wheelchair assistance and early boarding to ensure a smoother travel experience. Compare different airlines to determine the most accommodating services and accessibility features per your needs.
Driving an adapted vehicle: Plan routes with wheelchair-friendly stops to navigate the journey comfortably.
Staying in accessible hotels: Reserve mobility accessibility rooms in advance to ensure availability. You may also confirm accessible features such as wheelchair ramps, grab bars, and accessible bathrooms for a comfortable stay.
Moving pets: Check the pet policies of your new accommodations to ensure they’re pet-friendly and meet your pet’s needs. Consider obtaining pet insurance for added peace of mind during the transition.
Take safety precautions: Bring any medical supplies, assistive devices, or mobility aids you may require during the trip. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Manage stress: Practice relaxation techniques to improve overall emotional balance during the travel. Get plenty of rest to minimize anxiety.

Helpful Organizations for People Moving With Disabilities

The following are the national organizations that help people with disabilities move.

Elderly or Disabled Living

Elderly or Disabled Living is a 501c3 charity that provides financial assistance to low-income seniors or disabled individuals. Its site also allows you to custom-search for disability-related grants.

Grants.gov

Grants.gov facilitates organizations and entities in searching and applying for government-funded programs and projects, including those supporting individuals with special needs. It disburses $500 billion worth of grants annually through several agencies.

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is an organization that works toward including individuals with disabilities. One of the ways it does this is by offering funding and grants to individuals with advanced rehabilitation credentials.

Association of University Centers on Disability

The Association of University Centers on Disability is a network of interdisciplinary centers that work to advance policy and practice for individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. It also offers financial aid and relocation support to individuals with disabilities.

American Disabled for Attendant Program Today

The American Disabled for Attendant Program Today (ADAPT) is an organization that champions the rights and freedom of disabled individuals. Besides advocating, it provides various forms of assistance, such as financial aid, arranging reliable movers, packing and unpacking support, procuring cleaning services, and overseeing necessary adjustments in the relocated residence.

Our Conclusion

Moving with a disability is possible with proper planning and preparation. We recommend beginning the process early to evade last-minute stress, clearing out unnecessary items to save time and energy, and seeking assistance when required. Glean insights from our expert-shared tips and develop a moving plan that works best for your needs.

Our Experts

Elizabeth DePoy: Elizabeth DePoy, Ph.D., is an interdisciplinary studies professor and a cooperating mechanical engineering faculty member at the University of Maine. She has been centrally involved in curriculum development and instruction in both the graduate and undergraduate programs in interdisciplinary disability studies and serving on doctoral committees in mechanical engineering, disability studies, and new media. Her scholarship is acknowledged nationally and internationally in the fields of disability analyzed through the lens of humanness literacy and accessibility. With Gilson, she is an inventor of several mobility devices, one exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt Museum and internationally. She lives with her husband, Stephen Gilson, at Chapter Three Farm. They have used innovation to repurpose affordable solutions to improve access in the home and animal care spaces.

Stephen French Gilson: Stephen French Gilson, Ph.D., is a professor and coordinator of interdisciplinary disability studies at the University of Maine. Synthesizing the diversity and richness of his scholarly background in art and neuroscience, Dr. Gilson engages in research in disability theory, aesthetics, and accessibility. His most recent research integrates and applies artistry, design, and commitment to human rights to the development of aesthetically designed, advanced mobility equipment exhibited in the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Design Museum for its aesthetic elegance. Along with his wife, Liz DePoy, Stephen owns an adapted rescue farm in Maine. Living his passion for full access, the barn and farm area have been adapted to assure human access and animal caretaking better and to respond to the needs of the disabled and medically involved animals and people who live on the farm.

Dr. Meghan K. Spriggs: Dr. Meghan K. Spriggs, AuD, is a certified audiologist who cares for adults with hearing loss and ear disorders, including sensorineural, mixed and conductive hearing loss, tinnitus, presbycusis, otosclerosis, noise-induced hearing loss, and congenital and acquired hearing loss. Her primary interest and expertise are in implantable hearing technologies, including cochlear implantation and osseointegrated hearing implants. As a faculty member of the UCSD/SDSU joint doctoral program in audiology, Dr. Spriggs teaches graduate-level courses to second-year audiology students in temporal bone anatomy and neurophysiology, aural rehabilitation, cochlear implants, and other implantable hearing devices.

Dr. Terri Call: Dr. Terri Call was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, where her optometric interests were sparked by early accolades received for her childhood research on her brother’s color deficiency (first-grade science fair, fourth place). This, along with strong familial nearsightedness, spurred an interest in pursuing optometry as a career, and she later received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University with a minor in French Language. After receiving her OD degree from the UAB School of Optometry, she completed a Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitative Optometry residency at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs. Thanks partly to a lifelong interest in education, she returned to the school as a professor in the summer of 2016. She has continued as full-time faculty and a clinical attending in the Primary Care, Low Vision, and Ocular Disease clinics. She lives in Birmingham with a frustratingly intelligent German Shepard/husky mix named Hamlet.