OF THAT HOME TODAY, MOST HOMES TRADITIONAL HOMES AREN’T BUILT FOR SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN A WHEELCHAIR. BUT BETHANY CHILDREN’S HEALTH CENTER IS CHANGING THAT. WE HAD SOME EMPTY LOTS AND WE THOUGHT, WHY DON’T WE JUST START ONE AND LET’S SEE WHERE IT GOES? YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE FIRST MADI HOME, NAMED AFTER THE FOUNDER OF THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AND CREATED BRICK BY BRICK WITH DISABLED OKLAHOMANS IN MIND. A HOPEFUL BLUEPRINT TO FIX OKLAHOMA’S LACK OF ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT WAS REALLY KIND OF HEARTBREAKING WHEN WE WE’VE BEEN WALKING A JOURNEY, REALLY GOING ON A JOURNEY WITH THE KIDS, AND THEY BECOME ADULTS AND AND THEN THEY GO TO THE ADULT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND THEY’RE DEALING WITH ADULT ISSUES. AND WE HEAR JUST SOME REALLY TRAGIC STORIES. AND SO WE SAID, I, I DON’T KNOW HOW WE’LL FIX IT, BUT WE’RE GOING TO AT LEAST START TRYING. KOCO GOT THE FIRST LOOK INSIDE OUR LOWERED CABINETS, SINK AND STOVE, AND A ROLL IN SHOWER. PEOPLE KIND OF SET IN THEIR WAYS OF GOING, WELL, THIS IS JUST HOW IT’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE WHEN WE’RE TRYING TO BREAK THAT AND SAY MOORE IS POSSIBLE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I NOTICED WHEN I WALKED INTO THE HOME, ARE THE WIDENED DOORWAYS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK THAT’S CRITICAL. WE CALL IT THE DWAYNE MODEL. WE DECIDED TO WORK WITH ONE OF OUR FORMER PATIENTS AND A LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CALLED IRON BISON HOMES, AND STARTED DREAMING. YOU’RE ALWAYS TOLD HOW FAR YOU CAN GO. YOU CAN’T DO THIS. YOU CAN’T DO THAT. THIS IS HOW IT’S GOING TO BE. AND I FEEL LIKE WITH THIS HOUSE, IT JUST DEFIES ALL OF THAT. DWAYNE WILL BE THE FIRST TO LEASE THE HOME. IN AN INTERVIEW PROVIDED BY BETHANY CHILDREN’S, HE SAYS IT’S THE START OF SOMETHING BIG. I CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS ON MY OWN, BUT WITH THIS HOUSE I’LL HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THAT AND GET BETTER AT IT. IT’S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN SET AN EXAMPLE, EVEN PROVIDE PLANS RIGHT FOR A HOUSE THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO OTHER BUILDER
Bethany Children’s Hospital leading way in affordable, accessible housing
A local children’s hospital is leading the way in creating accessible and affordable housing in Oklahoma.
Updated: 9:32 PM CDT May 8, 2025
A local children’s hospital is leading the way in creating accessible and affordable housing in Oklahoma. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelBethany Children’s Health Center has built its first model home for those with mobile disabilities with plans to expand.KOCO 5 got an exclusive tour of the home on Thursday.At first glance, the home looks like any other, but it’s the details that make all the difference, like the extra-large covered car park that makes the home wheelchair friendly.“Most homes traditionally aren’t built for somebody who lives in a wheelchair,” said Nico Gomez, CEO of Bethany Children’s Health Center.But Bethany Children’s Health Center is changing that.“We had some empty lots, and we thought, ‘Why don’t we just start one and see where it goes?’” Gomez said.The home is the first “Mattie Home,” named after the founder of the hospital who created it brick by brick with disabled Oklahomans in mind. It is, hopefully, a blueprint to fix Oklahoma’s lack of accessible and affordable housing.“It was really kind of heartbreaking when we’ve been walking, going on a journey with the kids and they become adults. Then they go to the adult health care system and dealing with adult issues and we hear some really tragic stories. So, we said, ‘I don’t know how to fix it, but we’re at least going to start trying,’” Gomez said.KOCO 5 got the first look inside with lowered cabinets, sink and stove and a roll-in shower in the home.“People can sit in their ways of going ‘this is how it’s always going to be’ well, we are trying to break that and say more is possible,” Gomez said. “We call it the Dewayne model. We decided to work with one of our former patients and a local construction company called Iron Bison Homes and started dreaming.”“You’re always told how far you can go. ‘You can’t do this. You can’t do that. This is how it’s going to be.’ And I feel like with this house, it just defies all of that,” said Dewayne, a former patient at the hospital.Dewayne will be the first to lease the home.In an interview provided by the hospital, he said it’s the start of something big.“I can do a lot of things on my own, but in this house, I’ll have so many opportunities to enhance that and get better at it,” he said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.“It’s my hope that we can set an example, even provide plans for a house that can be given to other builders, other developers,” Gomez said.The home is scheduled to be completed in June.Top HeadlinesPope Leo XIV is first American-born pope in history of the Catholic ChurchParkinson’s disease prevention may ‘begin at the dinner table’Man found in Arcadia Lake remembered as longtime Guthrie educatorSuspect arrested after police use TVI maneuver to end chase in northwest OKC neighborhoodTrump agrees to cut tariffs on UK autos, steel and aluminum in new trade deal
A local children’s hospital is leading the way in creating accessible and affordable housing in Oklahoma.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Bethany Children’s Health Center has built its first model home for those with mobile disabilities with plans to expand.
KOCO 5 got an exclusive tour of the home on Thursday.
At first glance, the home looks like any other, but it’s the details that make all the difference, like the extra-large covered car park that makes the home wheelchair friendly.
“Most homes traditionally aren’t built for somebody who lives in a wheelchair,” said Nico Gomez, CEO of Bethany Children’s Health Center.
But Bethany Children’s Health Center is changing that.
“We had some empty lots, and we thought, ‘Why don’t we just start one and see where it goes?’” Gomez said.
The home is the first “Mattie Home,” named after the founder of the hospital who created it brick by brick with disabled Oklahomans in mind. It is, hopefully, a blueprint to fix Oklahoma’s lack of accessible and affordable housing.
“It was really kind of heartbreaking when we’ve been walking, going on a journey with the kids and they become adults. Then they go to the adult health care system and dealing with adult issues and we hear some really tragic stories. So, we said, ‘I don’t know how to fix it, but we’re at least going to start trying,’” Gomez said.
KOCO 5 got the first look inside with lowered cabinets, sink and stove and a roll-in shower in the home.
“People can sit in their ways of going ‘this is how it’s always going to be’ well, we are trying to break that and say more is possible,” Gomez said. “We call it the Dewayne model. We decided to work with one of our former patients and a local construction company called Iron Bison Homes and started dreaming.”
“You’re always told how far you can go. ‘You can’t do this. You can’t do that. This is how it’s going to be.’ And I feel like with this house, it just defies all of that,” said Dewayne, a former patient at the hospital.
Dewayne will be the first to lease the home.
In an interview provided by the hospital, he said it’s the start of something big.
“I can do a lot of things on my own, but in this house, I’ll have so many opportunities to enhance that and get better at it,” he said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“It’s my hope that we can set an example, even provide plans for a house that can be given to other builders, other developers,” Gomez said.
The home is scheduled to be completed in June.
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