Widening Doorways and Internal Access
NDIS internal access modifications: widening doorways, corridors and turning space for wheelchairs and walkers, plus structural points and assessment.
It's easy to focus on the front door and forget that moving around inside your home matters just as much. If doorways are too narrow for your wheelchair, corridors are tight, or there's nowhere to turn, everyday life shrinks to the rooms you can reach. This guide covers widening doorways and other internal access changes, and the structural points to be aware of.
Moving around your own home
What internal access changes include
Structural considerations
Minor tweaks and complex work
Doors, handles and thresholds
The assessment and what's next
Frequently asked questions
Will the NDIS pay to widen my doorways?
If an OT assessment shows it's reasonable and necessary for you to move safely through your home because of your disability, widening doorways can be funded from your Capital budget. It's complex, structural work.
Can a doorway be widened without major building work?
Sometimes offset (swing-clear) hinges add enough width without structural work, which is a minor change. Whether that's enough depends on your mobility aid — your OT will measure and advise.
What if the wall is load-bearing?
Load-bearing walls hold up part of the house and need careful, professional handling. A building practitioner assesses this before any change, which is one reason structural access work takes longer.
How much turning space do I need?
It depends on your wheelchair or walker and how you manoeuvre. Your OT measures your equipment and the spaces you use, then recommends the clearances and turning space you need in key rooms.
Are sliding doors an option?
Yes. Replacing swing doors with sliding or cavity doors can save space and make rooms easier to enter. Your OT will consider whether this suits your home and how you move.
I rent — can I widen doorways?
Structural changes like widening doorways need the property owner's written consent. Reversible options such as offset hinges may be easier to agree. See Home modifications if you rent.