Accessible Moving Guide: Planning a Safe Move for People with Disabilities

Many people judge a relocation by whether their belongings arrived undamaged and on time. For the one in four Americans with disabilities, a successful move also means ensuring the transition is safe and accessible for everyone involved.

As movers, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals with disabilities, empathy and thoughtfulness need to drive how we approach relocation. Planning an accessible move means accounting for the needs of all individuals, from installing mobility equipment before they arrive to making sure all boxes have clear, easy-to-read labels.

Allied Van Lines is committed to providing moving assistance for disabled individuals. In this accessible moving guide, we’ll address common challenges of moving someone with a physical disability, hearing loss, or cognitive decline, and offer helpful resources that can make moving safer and less stressful for everyone.

Why Accessibility Matters

For people with disabilities, accessibility isn’t a luxury or an afterthought. It needs to be built into the moving process from the start.

An accessible moving plan should include:

• Accessibility modifications in the new or temporary home
• Clear communication and thorough scheduling
• Accommodations for individuals with cognitive decline
• Specialized moving services designed to meet the needs of disabled individuals

Without careful planning, even a short-distance move can become confusing or unsafe. The ADA National Network notes that trying to improve accessibility once a plan has been finalized usually results in more expensive and less effective solutions.

In addition to helping those with disabilities feel more comfortable, inclusive planning also supports independence. By building an accessible moving plan from the ground up, you can smooth out potential challenges before they impact the individual’s ability to engage with the relocation process and settle into their new home.

By prioritizing accessibility, families and caregivers can help individuals feel safe and valued throughout the move.

Common Issues and Challenges

Many moving plans fail to account for a handful of common issues. Keep an eye out for these pain points to ensure a more inclusive move.

Inaccessible Living Spaces During Transition

Does your loved one have limited mobility? Their new or temporary housing may need ramps, grab bars, lifts, low counters, and other essentials. 

Don’t trust online pictures or descriptions. You can’t know whether the images show everything or if the listed features are correctly installed. The new home needs clear paths between rooms and adequate lighting throughout.

Property listings may ignore external factors like the quality of the sidewalk and whether nearby crosswalks have audible instructions. Visit the property in person (bring a measuring tape!) to make sure it’s fully equipped for the individual's needs.

If it’s not, you’ll need to consider whether the shortfalls can be fixed with after-market modifications or if you’ll need to find a new property.

Communication Barriers

Effective coordination is the backbone of any move. Hard-of-hearing individuals or those with speech impairments often struggle to coordinate with movers, both before and on the moving day.

Try to minimize improvisation and questions on the day. A pre-arranged communication plan can reduce frustration for the disabled individual while making sure details don’t fall through the cracks. Work with your mover to create written plans for logistics, scheduling, which items to move (and where to place them), and how to safely ship medical equipment.

Whether you or someone else, there should be a single, on-site point of contact in case any issues arise.

Overlooked Cognitive Needs

For someone experiencing memory loss, dementia, or cognitive decline, moving can feel deeply disorienting. 

Caregivers can reduce distress by keeping the individual’s routine as normal as possible. Pack their most familiar items last and unpack them first. Medications, comfort items like photos, important documents, hearing aids, and glasses should be handled by the caregiver or a trusted person, if possible, to minimize stress. 

Too many choices can be tiring, so try not to involve the person in every detail. Instead, provide clear options so that they feel heard.

Lack of Specialized Moving Support

Not every mover is prepared to help with moving for disabled people. When researching moving companies for seniors and disabled individuals, read lots of reviews and ask direct questions.

Does the company have a history of assisting individuals with cognitive decline? Can they provide packing and unpacking? Will they place furniture according to your floor plan? Do they offer valuation coverage? Will you have a single point of contact for easier coordination? These types of questions can help you identify movers that may be inadequate for your needs.

Remember, you’re under no obligation to choose a mover that doesn’t make you feel confident and provide the track record to back it up. Look for a moving company that operates with empathy and humanity, both for yourself and your loved one.

Educational Opportunities and Resources

The truth is, accessible moving presents a challenge, but you don’t have to go it alone. The organizations and resources below can help with disability rights, housing advocacy, independent living, caregiver support, and more.

National Association of Senior Move Managers

The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) is a professional association representing specialists who help older adults and their families with relocation, downsizing, and home transition services. It establishes industry standards and provides education and accreditation for “senior move management” professionals across the United States and internationally.

https://www.nasmm.org/

Easterseals

Easterseals is a major U.S. nonprofit organization providing services, advocacy, and support for individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. Founded in 1919, it promotes inclusion, independence, and equal opportunities through community-based programs nationwide.

https://www.easterseals.com/

Family Caregiver Alliance

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is a U.S.-based nonprofit caregiver support organization focused on improving the quality of life for family and friend caregivers, as well as the people they care for. It provides direct services in California and information, training, and advocacy resources nationwide.

https://www.caregiver.org/

National Council on Independent Living

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is a national, cross-disability, grassroots nonprofit organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, it serves as the longest-running organization of its kind in the United States, advancing independent living, human rights, and civil rights for people with disabilities nationwide.

https://ncil.org/advocacy-action/housing/

National Disability Rights Network

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is a nonprofit membership organization based in Washington, D.C., representing the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for people with disabilities. It leads a national network that delivers legally based advocacy and protection services to ensure civil and human rights for individuals with disabilities across the United States.

https://www.ndrn.org/

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is a component of the National Institutes of Health that supports and conducts research on hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Established in 1988, it advances understanding and treatment of communication disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.

https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/nih-almanac/national-institute-deafness-other-communication-disorders-nidcd#mission

Americans with Disabilities Act National Network

The ADA National Network’s mission is to promote voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by increasing knowledge about disability rights and responsibilities. It works to build accessible communities and workplaces through education, technical assistance, and resource dissemination.

https://adata.org/

Accessible Moving Tips and Best Practices

The first step in providing moving assistance for disabled individuals is a needs assessment. This will form the foundation of your entire moving plan. 

Inaccessible Living Spaces During Transition

If your loved one has limited mobility, start your plan by making sure the new or temporary home can accommodate their daily needs. As early as possible, conduct an in-person walkthrough of the entire space, imagining the home as if it’s already occupied.

• Review the entrance, parking or drop-off area, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and hallways.
• Note where ramps, grab bars, or lifts are needed.
• If accessibility equipment is already installed, make sure the ramps are even, the lifts are operational, and the grab bars are stable.
• Make sure all areas are well-lit and have accessible controls.
• Measure doorways and turning areas.
• Measure the height of cabinets and countertops.

Communication Barriers

If your loved one is hard of hearing, has a visual or speech impairment, or has experienced cognitive decline, communication will be crucial. Create a moving day plan that everyone can follow.

• Choose a single point of contact to represent the disabled individual. Make sure the moving crew has a designated point of contact as well.
• Before moving day, share the plan with the disabled individual and ask for feedback. Smoothing out concerns early can help reduce friction on the day.
• Plan where each box needs to go in the new home and share the plan with the movers.
• Use color-coding to reduce opportunities for miscommunication.
• Provide the crew with a brief cheat sheet covering the best ways to communicate.

Overlooked Cognitive Needs

Maintaining a sense of "home" can help those with cognitive decline feel less stressed and overwhelmed during a move. Gently share the moving plan with them in advance and review it again the day before the move.

• Try to provide a quiet room with a caregiver present during the move.
• Keep familiar objects visible for as long as possible. Pack their favorite items last and unpack them first.
• Try to set up the new space with a similar layout to the previous home.
• Schedule the movers around regular mealtimes.
• Label doors, cabinets, drawers, and rooms in the new home.

Lack of Specialized Moving Support

When comparing moving companies for seniors and disabled individuals, avoid discount providers. Accessible moving can’t be rushed or improvised. Choose movers with experience in planning and executing careful, caring relocations.

• Ensure the mover provides a dedicated point of contact for easy coordination throughout the process.
• Request a written plan covering all logistics, including what to load and unload first, where each piece of furniture goes, and access to the destination.
• Ask how the mover protects medical equipment and mobility devices. 
• Inform the point of contact of the disability so the crew can plan accordingly.

Conclusion

Despite the challenges of providing moving assistance for disabled individuals, relocation doesn’t need to be a source of stress.

Start early. Assess your loved one’s needs, walk through the new home before move-in, and request written moving plans that you can adjust as needed. And remember, you don’t need to plan this transition alone. Ask for support from disability organizations and trusted movers who understand the process of accessible moving.

At Allied Van Lines, we believe that moving at any stage of life can be a positive experience. From proactive communication to safe furniture placement, even the smallest touches can make a major difference. Our dedicated moving coordinators will work with you from the very beginning to make the move inclusive for everyone involved.