Sunshine on your shoulders. Warm breezes. The symphony of sing-songs from feather friends all around. The aroma of fresh cut grass. Just being outside can be a great mood enhancer. Getting active outside is even better for you.

Oddly enough, it almost doesn't matter what you do outside. Being outside is in and of itself doing something. The lack of an overhead structure and surrounding walls magically changes everything. The rules are different when you're outside.

Think about it. If you lay around on the couch in the living room, you're lazy. If you're laying around the yard in a hammock or lawn chair, you're lazing. One is oh, so terrible, shameful even... and the other is perfectly acceptable.

Spend the afternoon in a bubble bath - well, you just try and live that down. Change bath tub to hot tub and you get a free pass. Same activity, essentially the same venue.

One beautiful sunny day last fall, some friends and I rolled the television outside on my off-road wheelchair to watch football. Instead of being slugs wasting the day inside, we were the heroes of the neighborhood - it took about 18 seconds for every man within a mile to be hanging around. The only thing that draws a crowd of men faster than raising the hood of a truck is bringing a television into the parking lot.

On a practical note, the number of people gravitating toward outdoor living is growing and with the population aging and the dearth of residences with access features, having an accessible yard will add to the value of your home.

No matter what you're doing, it’s always more fun to do it outside. Food tastes better, you sleep better, life slows down just a bit. Even parties seem more exotic and leisurely when they're outdoors.

Ready for a change of view? Outdoor living is more than garden gnomes and a few patio lanterns. And the fun thing about decking out the yard? It's easy. There are lots of choices, and a little effort goes a long way.

I'm a fan of the 50's décor, except for the yard. I'm sorry, but the memory of the old rickety swing set with tiny little slide just makes me glad that I'm grown up. The fact that nothing about it was accessible wasn't even a factor back then, since we weren't a factor back then, but that has changed – oh, how has it changed.

Dining Out

Outdoor living spaces are rapidly growing in popularity and the line between inside and outside is starting to disappear - right along with that gigantic concrete step that marked (read: blocked) the entrance to the yard. Crossover spaces like sunrooms and screened in porches often lead to decks and patios which are becoming more functional with integrated lighting and built-in seating and cooking areas with a range of amenities.

These outdoor kitchens can be as simple or luxurious as you choose, complete with counter tops, storage space, full-size or drop-in grills, electrical outlets, refrigeration and running water. Wood burning pizza ovens, dishwashers, coffee pots and fire rings are also becoming popular. Fuelled by gas, wood, pellets or charcoal, most outdoor kitchens are custom designed, but there are companies with off-the-shelf kits available for shipping.

Full accessibility is very easy to include without sacrificing any of the aesthetics of the design, and in fact can enhance it quite a bit with lowered working and seating areas being welcoming to children.

The cost of a fully decked out outdoor kitchen can represent a major investment, but can add tremendous value to your home by expanding the usable living space. It is also likely subject to building codes and may require the services of professionals like plumbers, electricians and building inspectors. Your designer should be able to recommend reputable contractors.

Decked Out

Patios and decks are the basis of accessible outdoor living space. Mother Nature has done her part in the form of grass, which is fairly accessible if the lawn is in good shape - more or less flat, compact and covered with good thick growth.

If you decide to put a surface down, you've got plenty of choices. A wide range of ADA compliant pavers and decking is available in an almost endless selection of textures and colors (check out Grassy Pavers at www.quarteroaksranch.com). Standard 24 x 24 inch patio stones are available in multiple colors and are easily installed in an afternoon. They are also the easiest in terms of pre-installation preparation. You can lay them out on the ground (but a sand bed is better for leveling) and use the area immediately. Poured concrete can be etched, stained and patterned to achieve the exact look you want. Installation of these products is a little more involved as they all require different surface preparation, but the end results are spectacular.

Concrete pavers (also known as interlocking stone) come in a huge selection of colors, shapes and textures so your design can be as intricate or as simple as you like with circles, curves, fans and weaves. Often these pavers have matching retaining wall stone so built in garden beds, benches and walls can also be seamlessly integrated. Properly installed on a prepared bed of compacted gravel and a sand base, you can expect your patio to last for many years.

Tried and true, cedar decking is still popular and a range of premade components like railings and stairs, as well as installation aids and accessories make building a deck a homeowner project. Faux wood products like the formable Trex Deck systems make additional colors, curves and elaborate shapes affordable. Fully ADA compliant in terms of slip resistance, this product is useful for commercial applications as well. Designing the deck of your dreams for free by using the online deck designer at www.trex.com. Or find a selection of plans for decks and patios at your local Home Depot or Lowes. Be sure to get a building permit, if you need one, before you buy. Sometimes the building codes - which are designed for able bodied people - cause issues for those of us with a different point of view. This applies to pools and outdoor kitchens as well. Better safe than sorry.


Play Time

Loads of companies are manufacturing outdoor play equipment for kids with disabilities. The classic swing set has been updated - now they're accessible, themed and have numerous play stations incorporated into them. Outdoorfunstore.com, for example, has a healthy selection of accessible swing set components - from adult safety swings to platforms.

Splash Pad

What back yard oasis is complete without a water feature? Swimming pool, hot tub, multi-level waterfall mimicking a fabulous Hawaiian grotto… you know, the basics. Nothing fancy.

You have options here too – in-ground, above-ground, inflatable – with your choice depending on budget, available space and amount of risk and future expenses you're willing to take on. An in-ground pool is the ultimate luxury and a large investment. It's also one of features that may or may not be positively reflected in the value of your property since some people are not interested in assuming the liability, long term maintenance and/or costs associated with an in-ground pool. But if you don't mind being the envy of the neighborhood…

Looking for something less permanent? The inflatable pools that popped onto the landscape in the 80s have evolved from the little donut into some larger volume pools with prices ranging from $50 for a basic unit up to $1,800 kit that comes complete with everything you need. If you're in a hurry, you can grab one from your local department store in the morning and be swimming by day’s end. To order online, check out www.coolinflatables.com, or give them a call at (866) 305-8731.

If space is a concern, maybe a lap/wave pool from one of the many suppliers would fit. SwimEx, the largest manufacturer of wave pools, offers a choice of residential models. With every major league sports team owning a SwimEx, the customer list speaks for itself. Residential prices start in the $25,000 range and the company offers full service installation by licensed professionals and can assist with financing as well. Endless Pools and Hydroworx also have multiple models to choose from.

In-ground or above, access is no problem at all with the wide selection of permanent and portable pool and spa lifts now available. Access to Recreation
(www.accesstr.com) has numerous models to choose from and a free catalog is just a phone call away. The Above Ground Pool Lift series lifts by Aquatic Access is suitable for both spas and pools. All ADA compliant, the helpful and knowledgeable staff at Aquatic Access can also assist you with your commercial or public facility access.

So whether your summers are spent charring dogs or searing steaks while the kids tear it up on the slip-n-slide or just relaxing in the spa remember, as long as you're outside, it's all good.