Your House -Universal Design

• Use
  pulls instead of knobs on cabinets and drawers. These are much
  easier on arthritic hands.

• Install
  a contrasting edge-band on countertops. This makes it easier
  for someone with failing eyesight to see the edge of the countertop.
  Anyone navigating a dimly lit kitchen for a middle-of-the-night
  snack will also appreciate this touch.

• Install
  varied-height cabinets and countertops. This is particularly
  appreciated in multi-cook families where, say, a very tall parent
  and a child may be working together to prepare a meal. Countertop
  heights can also be varied to accommodate particular tasks.
  For example, bakers value lower countertops for rolling out
  pastry and kneading dough.

• Consider
  flexible appliances. Items such as under-the-counter refrigerator
  drawers make a kitchen more accessible for someone in a wheelchair.
  They are still pretty expensive, but the price is certain to
  drop over time. Elevating the dishwasher accommodates people
  in wheelchairs as well as people who may not be able to bend
  easily. You can even get a sink that raises or lowers at the
  touch of a button.

• To
  accommodate a cook who uses a wheelchair, leave open space under
  the sink, cooktop, and prep counter, opt for higher toekicks
  on the base cabinets, install pull-down shelves in the upper
  cabinets, and choose a range with controls at the front or to
  the side of the cooktop (choose a model with a safety lock-out
  option if there are also young children in the house).

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