A New Door Opens
- Alaska Warrior Partnership
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
Living in rural Alaska presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to home renovations for accessibility. For wheelchair users, essential modifications like ramps and wider doorways are often difficult to achieve due to the limited availability of contractors willing or able to travel to remote locations. As a result, residents with mobility needs in these areas often face significant delays or barriers in creating safe, livable homes.
Travis is a Navy veteran who lives in Delta Junction, AK where resources like contractors are hard to come by. Travis and his wife reached out to Alaska Warrior Partnership with a request for assistance for their front door. Over the years living in their home, the threshold of their entryway had warped and shifted, only allowing the door to open about a foot; this posed many safety concerns for them, as Travis is a wheelchair user around his home, opting for reprieve from his prosthetic. Should they need to exit the home in an emergency or bring firewood and groceries into the home, they wouldn’t be able to do so safely or efficiently.
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Tiana, AKWP’s case coordinator, worked to connect Travis with Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) North, who located a contractor that could provide a work estimate for their home. During this time Lori, of Alaska Community Development, reviewed their application for the Senior Access grant and completed a home visit, where they found that their kitchen floor was also in need of repairs for Travis's wheelchair to safely and easily maneuver.
Travis was awarded the Senior Access grant through Alaska Community Development, and the contractors already visited their home. Travis and his wife said the contractors were beyond exceptional and the remodels will soon be completed. Travis and his wife will no longer have to squeeze through a half open door to access their home thanks to supportive help of the community partners involved!
