This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we explore what it means to build a truly inclusive home—one that works for every member of your family, including those who are neurodivergent. Dr. Susan Faja from Boston Children’s Hospital walks us through practical design tips for supporting sensory needs at home, from choosing the right lighting and colors to building calming spaces that actually work.
Then, author Sloan Crosley takes us on a tour of her charmingly off-kilter West Village apartment, where a tilted floor, tulip tree view, and bookshelf-lined walls have shaped both her writing and her sense of home.
Next, it’s DIY time. We help listeners insulate attics, restore old wood siding, seal leaky outlets, and repaint crumbly foundations. And finally, Catio Bob stops by to explain how to give your cat the backyard of their dreams with the perfect outdoor enclosure—plus how to build one yourself.
All this, plus a round of House Rules and a no-tools-needed picture hanging hack.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
How to design a home that supports neurodivergent family members (0:55)
What to consider when insulating an attic space—vented vs. unvented (8:42)
Best materials for restoring historic wood siding and trim (16:38)
How to seal outlets to prevent drafts (21:54)
How to prep and repaint a stone foundation (26:28)
What a catio is, how to build one, and why your cat might need it (39:37)