Building Knowledge: Construction Basics Every Home Safety Therapist Should Know

Credit

Handouts/Brochure

Speaker

Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, CAPS, SHSS Related seminars and products

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Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, CAPS, SHSS, has had a wide variety of experiences and has worked with pediatrics through geriatrics in various settings. She even ventured away from traditional occupational therapy for a few years and had the privilege of starting an Early Head Start program from the ground up and was the director of the EHS program. Kara taught in an OTA program as well as served as the academic fieldwork coordinator for approximately 8 years. In order to provide client-centered, occupation-based, and evidence-based practice, Kara started her own Mobile Hybrid Practice to help older adults age in place in 2018. This business has grown significantly over the years, and she now has over 15 employees and contractors providing a wide array of services. Her business not only has its own client population, but they also provide services to other agencies and businesses. Due to the lack of resources for helping therapy professionals start their own business, Kara created the Next Level Occupational Therapy Facebook group. It was through this group that it became apparent that all therapy professionals needed assistance in starting their own business and that is when the Therapy Business Builder program was started. Kara has helped hundreds of therapists get to the next level in their career through her programs.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kara Welke is the owner of Home Therapy Solutions, LLC and Next Level Occupational Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. Kara Welke has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kara Welke has no relevant non-financial relationships.

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Objectives

1. Apply foundational construction concepts—such as framing, joists, blocking, and wall types—to evaluate the structural feasibility and safety of proposed home modifications that enhance occupational performance and reduce environmental barriers.
2. Differentiate between standardized guidelines (e.g., ADA, FHA) and individualized needs to determine appropriate grab bar placement and bathroom modifications that support safe and client-centered self-care routines.
3. Assess entryways, staircases, and circulation routes within and around the home to recommend appropriate access solutions—including ramps, lifts, and stair modifications—that align with client mobility needs and promote community and home participation.
4. Collaborate effectively with construction professionals by using shared language and practical reasoning to advocate for accessible, feasible, and functionally appropriate environmental modifications.

Outline

Foundations: Why Construction Knowledge Is a Clinical Tool

• Connect the dots: Structural feasibility and ADL performance
• Case examples of well-meaning recommendations gone wrong
• Elevating your role as a safety advocate and collaborative planner

Core Construction Concepts for Occupational Performance

• Structural lingo decoded: Studs, joists, blocking, headers, ceiling joists
• Understanding “16 on center”: spacing, stability, and wall strength
• Load-bearing vs. non-load-bearing: what therapists need to know
• Planning ahead: Inside vs. outside walls, including ICF wall examples

Grab Bars: Clinical Insight Meets Structural Know-How

• Blocking and backer boards: what supports long-term safety
• ADA and FHA requirements—then going beyond to customize
• Personalized placement based on client mobility, not prescriptions
• Common errors in fiberglass/tile wall installations

Safe Entry, Real Access: Exterior Modifications that Work

• Site grading and slope: evaluating ramp vs. lift
• Doorway widening: what’s possible (and what’s not) in a garage wall
• Exterior wall conversion for barrier-free design
• Threshold transitions for mobility device access

Inside the Home: Structural Realities of Functional Modifications

• Doorway clearance and maneuverability standards
• Stair lifts: how to tell if the structure supports them
• Handrail requirements: what’s code, what’s clinical

Barrier-Free Bathrooms: Optimizing Function in Tight Spaces

• What makes a shower truly curbless—and safe
• Turning radius, fixture spacing, and mobility device fit
• Planning for future needs: grab bars, transfer supports, and more

Real-World Case Applications

• Clinical reasoning meets construction barriers
• Walk through therapist-led assessments with structural solutions
• Advocating with confidence: Justify, document, and implement

Target Audience

• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Other Rehabilitation and Healthcare Professionals