Is there an organization called Resources for Independent Living or some such in your area? These are usually a peer ran org. to help provide, among other things, resources for accessibility, some RIL's even have names and references of architects, contractors, handymen, etc. listed.

A good resource for you, right there in NC at NC State is the Center for Universal Design. They could probably give you some free advice and some contacts. (If not, let me know.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Center for Universal Design

Jillrob,

Thanks! I have friend who is an architect, and he said he would come look at it for me--but I hate to impose. Maybe I can be someone's "accessible retrofitting design" project! They get an actual problem to solve, and the kid in question can get to the "teen room" in the basement! (Last time we had a party we hauled the TV, Nintendo, etc upstairs. Worked, but not as well as if they'd had the basement "party room" available!)

I'm going to contact the department at State later today or tomorrow and see wht I can learn. I KNEW someone in this forum would help me out! It's important to me that my house and garden be accessible--I didn't realize HOW important till it hit us (almost) directly. Now I find myself trying to solve design problems (in my head) everywhere I go. Bless you! melanie