Saturday morning dawned overcast with a forecast of rain showers, however, that did not stop the eager crowds from descending upon downtown Brattleboro VT for the 3rd annual Tiny House Fest VT! I spent way too much time trying to find a parking space close to the festival, and by the time I arrived the lot was full of families, couples, friends, and solo adventurers exploring the many tiny houses and vehicles converted into living spaces. A brass band played on the roof of what appeared to be a mobile party house, and the delicious smells of food wafted through the air, mingling with the occasional umbrella.
Camera in hand, I started snapping photos and was quickly drawn into conversations with visitors asking about Wheel Pad. Then, all too quickly, it was time for Julie and Joseph’s talk, Wheel Pad 2.0: the ADA Accessible Tiny House, to start on the Story Stage. The Story Stage was located on the first level of an empty brick building, an old warehouse adjacent to where Wheel Pad was parked. Couches and folding chairs rounded out the comfortable seating, and the audience filled most of the available seats, with some choosing to stand at the back of the room.
Julie started by explaining how Wheel Pad came to be, sharing Riley Poor’s story. Then Joseph took over, describing the design features of Wheel Pad, and the types of refinements that they undertook for Wheel Pad 2.0. They concluded by sharing the latest video about Wheel Pad and by talking about our plans to develop a fully accessible tiny house, a self contained unit. During the Q&A, many hands went up and people asked about the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and how that works. People were curious about our plans to develop an accessible tiny home, and how soon that might be ready. The talk ended with a discussion about inclusion in general, and how our culture is shifting to keep children and the elderly who experience mobility issues at home, rather than sending them away to a special school or institution. Many of the audience members expressed their appreciation for the existence of Wheel Pad, and for bringing Wheel Pad to the Tiny House Fest VT to help get people thinking about inclusion in a new way.
We spent the day explaining Wheel Pad to the constant stream of festival participants coming for a tour. Standing outside Wheel Pad, you would have heard this brief explanation:
“Wheel Pad is a 200 square foot accessible bedroom and bathroom module that can be attached to an existing home. It is designed for people with mobility issues, and features an integrated track system that works with a Hoyer lift to move people from the bed to the bathroom in a sling. The interior design is based off of universal design principles, such as light switch height and bathroom functionality. Wheel Pad is a local, Vermont company, based out of Wilmington Vermont, Wheel Pads are manufactured in Vermont, and the building materials we’ve chosen to use are energy efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable. Wheel Pad can be permanently or temporarily attached; purchased or leased. Go take a look!”
Then, depending on interest and questions, I explained more. My response to cost ($60,000 for standard model, not including delivery and installation, or starting at $3,000 per month to lease) and financing (Credit Unions will finance a purchase of Wheel Pad) inquiries were met with nods of approval; people were especially glad to hear about the leasing option. I shared how we have just been approved by the Veterans Administration as a builder for their Specially Adaptive Housing Grant (SAH Grant), which prompted Veterans to ask more about how approval for that grant works. I talked about how Wheel Pad can be installed by the time a loved one comes home from rehab following a life changing accident. I explained that delivery can be done with a heavy duty pickup truck (like an F-250 or F-350) and does not require a CDL license, for those wanting to haul Wheel Pad themselves rather than hire a driver. We will work with your contractor to make sure the installation goes smoothly, helping with designs for the connector to the main house, as well as ramp options. I also shared how we can customize just about any aspect of Wheel Pad: interior finishes or design details, exterior design, overall dimensions of Wheel Pad, adding solar panels - the possibilities are limited only to your imagination and transportation requirements. I also answered many questions about the building materials and finishes: Wheel Pad is constructed with SIPs (structural insulated panel), has an R value of 25 (including the floor), yes, that is thin-set on the walls, bamboo laminate flooring, etc.
Inside Wheel Pad, we pointed out some of the design refinements in Wheel Pad 2.0. The electric on-demand water heater is now larger, to accommodate longer showers. Heating and cooling is possible via a mini-split (the original model had an electric fan heater only, no air conditioning). The layout of the bathroom changed to better accommodate usage of the sling. The bathroom floor now features an epoxy floor for longevity, with a grit adhesive added for safety.
Everyone who stepped inside Wheel Pad had something positive to say. “I love the mountains on the walls”. “The stainless steel walls in the bathroom - ingenious. Easy to clean and they reflect the light so well.” “Wow, the space feels so big, and airy.” “These clear handrails are just beautiful, I want them in my home! They just disappear into the wall, but still provide so much support.” “I just love that this is designed specifically for people in wheelchairs.” “It feels so stable, there isn’t any wobble.” “So much light in here!” “These doors to the bathroom, its like they aren’t here but still provide so much privacy.” “This is such a great idea.” “Having that ceiling track standard is so considerate.” “I like the colored lights in the ceiling, it’s fun!” “It’s just so modern, not at all institutional or like a hospital room.” And, over and over again: “Thank you!”
We were not able to keep track of how many people came to see Wheel Pad on Saturday, however we know we had non-stop visitors in groups of 2 - 8 from 10 a.m. sharp (people were waiting to get in!) until around 2 p.m., when there was the first lull of the day. I didn’t know it was possible to talk so much! Another steady stream of visitors arrived between 3 and 4, and then the crowds started to dissipate and we had only two or three visitors stopping by every 5 minutes or so until we started to take down the ramp (and we still had visitors wanting to get inside to see!). Several people returned throughout the day with friends, to show them Wheel Pad and point out specific details that they found inspiring. Many shared with us that they would be in touch, as they didn’t need Wheel Pad just yet but thought they would soon. An equal number shared that this would have been perfect for mom, or an uncle, instead of having to be in ‘that home’ for so long. Everyone was appreciative of the design and the approach we’ve taken to serving a population who rarely has environments or products developed specifically for them.
As audience members discussed during Julie and Joseph’s talk, the future of Wheel Pad is one of ever increasing inclusion. As our culture shifts, and as medical advances make it possible to survive after traumatic injuries and to live longer with challenging illnesses, the need for Wheel Pad will only increase. And we will be there, helping to keep people in their communities, with friends close by, at home with their family and loved ones.