Environmental modifications (EM) entail the rearranging, rebuilding, or retrofitting of existing spaces to make them accessible, usable, and safe either for a specific individual or for people with disabilities, in general. This type of modification can involve installing equipment, simple structural changes to a single room, or significant alterations to an entire structure.
Modifications may be undertaken (1) out of a desire to optimize safety, mobility, and independence; (2) at the direction of a rehabilitation professional; or (3) under a legal mandate such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. EM may entail simple installation of prefabricated adaptive devices (durable medical equipment (DME)) such as grab bars and a shower bench, significant structural changes such as adding a ramp or widening a doorway, or combinations of the two. DME can be fabricated to an.
