DLF launches adaptations webinars

The DLF is running a series of free webinars over the winter period featuring techniques and advice for assessing for major adaptations. Presented by DLF Trainers and leading OT practitioners in the field of adaptations the talks are based on DLF's level five 'Home Adaptations for Professionals' training course.

The first webinar Practical Assessment for Home Adaptations: kitchen design will be presented  by Marney Walker and will take place on Friday 18th December at 1pm. Marney is an independent OT with over 25 years' experience in inclusive design and accessible housing. She specialises in the impact of the environment on health and wellbeing and is currently a PhD candidate on the 100 Year Life and the Future Home project at Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University researching visual aesthetic preferences in people living with dementia.

The webinar will provide pointers on holistic measurement of a person for a functional solution. It will also consider environmental design and layouts. The material is based on the one-day kitchen module from the level five adaptations course and will provide a great introductory briefing on adapting kitchens. Registration is free by following this link.

January’s webinar takes place at 1pm on January 20th and it will focus on bathroom design presented by Louise Powell. Louise is an OT by profession who has spent the majority of her career working in housing adaptions teams. As Team Manager for the HEART partnership in Warwickshire she manages an integrated housing adaptations team covering the whole of Warwickshire. The team includes Occupational Therapists, Housing Assessment Officers, and Housing Duty Officers. The team works closely with the technical team to deliver housing adaptions and a wide range of housing solutions.

Louise’s talk will examine how to decide on a bathroom solution, a review of showering and bathing options along with considering all the things that should taken into account when devising a suitable bathroom adaptation solution.

The third talk will deal with access solutions presented by Claire Miller and the final webinar is on multi-levels and is presented by Cathrine Ruston.

To find out more about DLF’s programme for professionals involved in assessing for adaptations, email enquiries@dlf.org.uk or call 0300 123 3084


The DLF is a 50-year old national charity part of The Shaw Trust that specialises in impartial information, advice and training about equipment for independent living. Free services for the public include:

  • Living Made Easy - their impartial online marketplace visited by 1.1 million people in 2019
  • AskSARA - an online guided advice tool and
  • Youreable - the thriving forum visited by 900,000 people in 2019.

Services for professionals include their DLF Training courses and DLF-Data the prescribing tool for professionals which is free to use during the pandemic (contact them for a login).