Hi peg leg, sorry I am getting into the conversation late, but hope I can help. I have been saving a lot of items after extensive research with prices towards remodeling for universal design because I am raising 4 kids and am in and out of a wheelchair. Without an accessible home, I found myself more and more home bound. So suggestions: 1) I would be happy to share my links if someone tells me best way to do so (it's on another site) 2) I imagine/hope you are in application for SSI for your son. It is a process, but even more than any meager direct financial help you may get, having him as government disabled will get him many services not otherwise available 3) I would have to look into CA, but many states have a much faster line to disability services through the state medical review team under the department of health. You should have an open intake number for your county for all county services, and let them know you need a county case manager through disability (not social security) and that should start your path. If you have private insurance, they also will cover a case manager through a contracted agency who can help with resources. Your best person to ask of you do not know where to start if your son's occupational therapist. There are numerous non-profits in each county that specialize-!for example that do free installations on mobility changes. 4) safety and independence first- there are people I work with in MN and around the world who are deeply committed to universal design and/or online health. On the bathroom, having a similar one I was advised the best bet is a full Wetroom - your son will need a PCA (which you can get free from insurance or county) and glass or half walls get in the way. A curtain from the ceiling can give a beautiful way to separate out for other users (e.g. Pulled back next to the toilet) but not provide any barriers for your son or PCA. The system John mentioned is the best option- the whole room can get wet and still be both accessible and beautiful. 5) A visitable wheelchair access will change your son's life. They make 2" door extender hinges that may make the difference. I have also found many low-cost high impact products and ideas I would be happy to share from ramping to adaptable solutions.. sometimes just removing something will give the turnaround and entry space your son needs. 6) from catastrophic accidents, to aging in place and everything in between, there is a huge demand and little information available. To everyone else in the conversation- I have become convinced that a cause-related multi media program could enable learning for all by showcasing projects through television and web that showcases products and professionals and gets people in need rehabs in the process. John, Ronny, Susan, et al...my background is communications and joint ventures for pr/cause marketing. There just is not anything here in the U.S. I am happy to throw my hat in the ring to help coordinate an online and other media initiative on universal design. We can start with pegleg's son, and move around to different areas of UD from design to products to construction, etc. Contact info- Gzahtz@me.com @gailzahtz Gail.zahtz Skype Www.gailzahtz.com -needs updating :-) Nothing better than if we could use the online community to help! Pegleg- check out my story and you will understand I know you can get through this! Best, Gail

pdk920: I am sure that lm1170 understood what everyone meant. This one is for you: Lose vs Loose A lot of people are mixing up lose and loose. In particular, a lot of people are writing loose when they really mean lose. Here are the definitions of the two words from my Penguin dictionary: loose [lOOs] adj not fastened or pre-packed; not tied up or confined; able to move freely; not tight, not firmly fixed; not close-fitting; careless, inaccurate, vague; dissolute, immoral; not closely woven; flabby; (of bowels) inclined to diarrhoea; l. box stable or van in which an animal can move about; at a l. enduncertain what to do next; unoccupied ~ loose adv in a loose way; play fast and l. behave rashly or unscupulously ~ loose n release; on the l. free from restraint; on a spree; ~ loose v/t untie, undo; release from confinement or constraint, set free; detatch; fire (gun); shoot (arrow); (eccles) absolve. lose (p/t and p/part lost) [lOOz] v/t and i no longer have; be deprived of by accident or misfortune; mislay, fail to find; fail to get or win; be too late for; be bereaved of; waste; be defeated or beaten; suffer loss, become worse off; fail to hear, see or understand; cause or allow to perish; (of clock or watch) go too slowly; (refl) miss the right path; become absorbed in; l. one's head become flustered, panic; l. one's temper grow angry; l. one's way fail to find the right path; l. out (US) be defeated after a struggle. Examples: This knot is too loose. Please do not lose my book. I had better not lose that file. One way to remember the difference between the two words is to think that "lose has lost an 'o'".

Hi Betsy, Maybe Star can chime in and confirm, but it looks like your installer didn't properly apply the waterproofing membrane. The ENTIRE installation needs to be red, not just the seams. The red membrane should be about the thickness of a credit card. Usually installers cheap out on this because 1 bucket is much cheaper than 3. Your installer should be completely liable for replacing this. Trapped moisture=mold. This install will fail and cause you more headache if you don't fix soon.

You have a complete tear out here, hate to tell you that, but that is the truth. You might as well plan to redo it. What kind of budget do you have for this work? Once you start with one thing, it will lead to another and another and you will ultimately tear it all out. I would estimate around 30K to do everything if you want a nice updated master bath. With the age of this house, you will also probably run into code upgrade requirements, so better plan this out carefully no matter what you decide. You could just replace sinks and countertops and faucets, but then the cabinets look pretty beat up. That would just be a band aid if you know what I mean. Think about it and then develop a complete plan, get some estimates, look around for the various things that need to be replaced, price them out, add all the items up, add another contingency amount (20% of your total) to cover unexpected surprises when you tear into walls, add 100% of the total cost of your materials for labor and then see if you can touch anything in this bathroom. Sorry to be so blunt, but hate to see you jump in and find out these things with a half torn up bathroom. Hard to live without master bath for 8 months! I hope you take my advice in the manner intended, to help prevent you from making big mistakes. Good luck.