A New Start: How a Home Transformation Restored Independence

Photo: Home Builders Foundation

In 2020, a single car ride changed everything for Grayson. A crash left him paralyzed from the chest down, and overnight the home he had grown up in no longer worked for his new reality.

Like many families navigating sudden disability, Grayson’s family did what they could. They moved into a different home and tried to make adjustments, but the space still created daily barriers. Tight areas made maneuvering a wheelchair difficult, and a small “curbless” shower flooded frequently and didn’t allow safe transfers. The kitchen, designed for standing users, required Grayson’s mom to bring down anything he needed so he could cook.

Photo: Home Builders Foundation

By the time Grayson connected with Home Builders Foundation, he had already adapted to many parts of his new life. He was studying engineering in college, competing in wheelchair tennis, and determined to maintain as much independence as possible. His home simply needed to catch up.

Working with volunteer industry partners, the project focused on transforming key areas of the house so Grayson could move safely and comfortably throughout the space. The bathroom was redesigned with a true roll-in shower, improved drainage, and the turning radius necessary for wheelchair access and transfers. What had once been a source of constant frustration became a space that finally worked with his needs rather than against them.

The kitchen required an equally thoughtful redesign. Roll-under counters and a lowered sink allow Grayson to prepare meals from his wheelchair, while reachable storage and improved clearance give him the space he needs to move throughout the kitchen independently. Additional improvements created safer pathways throughout the home and improved accessibility at the entry, eliminating barriers that once made coming and going a challenge.

Photo: Home Builders Foundation

Architect Doug Walter and Project Captain Tylor Morrison helped guide the project, coordinating design and construction solutions that balanced accessibility with functionality for the entire household.

Today, the changes mean something far greater than updated finishes or improved layouts. Grayson can cook for himself and for friends, move comfortably through his home, and navigate daily routines without relying on others. For Grayson, those changes mean something simple but powerful: a home that finally works for him.

Projects like this highlight the role the building industry can play in helping individuals with disabilities remain safely and comfortably in their homes. Home Builders Foundation partners with architects, builders, remodelers, and trade professionals across Colorado to create accessibility solutions that allow people with disabilities to live more safely and independently. To learn more about partnering on accessibility projects or getting involved, visit hbfdenver.org.