Adapting the home 

OT’s will recommend major adaptations when they are assessed as ‘necessary and appropriate’ and ‘reasonable and practicable’. Adaptations are only carried out with the permission of the landlord or property owner and funding for adaptations is dependent on the owner of the property. Funding an adaptation may require an application to the council for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). Parents income is only considered for when the grant goes over the 30k. Disabled children under the age of 18 can sometimes get a grant without their parents’ income being taken into account.

Adaptations are usually provided so that the child can have:

> Access to the building
> Access to facilities for washing (this could be a bath or a shower)
> Access to a room that can be used as a bedroom
> Access to a room with a toilet
> Safety in the home for the disabled person and other people living in the building
> Access to the principal family room
> Access to a room for cooking / a wash hand basin

You will need a referral from an occupational therapist (OT) to apply for a DFG. They will complete a housing needs assessment with you to identify whether adaptations are needed to meet your child’s current and future needs.

You might not get any grant if you start work on your property before your application is approved.