Seeing New Storage Solutions for the Visually Impaired

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a non-profit organization in Winnetka, IL, created to provide personalized learning opportunities that empower adults with vision loss or blindness to thrive - at home, at work, and in their communities.

One of the many services the institute offers is workshops tailored to those with vision or hearing loss, as well as housing materials for braille and audio learning.
 

A Redesign Built on Success

To continue offering a wide range of materials, as well as accommodating their clients, Hadley had a special architect come in to refresh the design of their facility’s exterior and interior.
This redesign was specifically made for the vision impaired, adding textures to let them know exactly where they are, in addition to how close to a wall they are where the doors and handrails are, and where the stairs are located.

Though the redesign went even further, for, within the walls of Hadley Institute, there is a special room dedicated to all of the materials that help their clients. This is where Wolter’s storage consultant was brought in to spearhead the need for a compact storage space.
 

Bringing in the Storage Experts

Wolter was chosen due to our knack for very compact designs – where we meticulously select and lay out the specific storage units, no matter the size of the room.
Before Wolter joined the redesign team, they had gone through all of the materials, deciding what needed to be kept, and what could be discarded.
 

The Beginning Stages

In the beginning stages of the storage design, there was an immediate issue, as the fire department’s inspection found that more clearance was needed.
This meant there were a few inches that needed to be cut back, as the fire department determined the units were too close to the ramp. If someone were to come down the ramp in a wheelchair, they would not be able to make the swing. Therefore, Wolter came up with a solution to modify without issue.
 

The Compact Storage Design

First, the crank storage units were installed, followed by shelving units, which sit next to the ramp on one side.
The shelving units provide optimal storage and organization for envelopes and outgoing mail.
A path was made from the ramp straight into the storage aisle. The institute even redid its lighting for better visibility.

The compact storage design has provided a designated space for the Institute’s valuable materials – making packing materials fast and easy, thus, more productive.