Re: Suggestion - Sims 4 - Sims with Disabilities

@RandomBuzziness I was just thinking, considering your comment and the comment information/thoughts I shared also, that maybe if they did a basegame update where they tweaked some of the public buildings to make them 'wheelchair accessible', they could add some type of signage in front of the building to indicate they were wheelchair accessible, and maybe even create lot trait or something? Maybe the lot trait could come with the pack to indicate a lot has the needed features, but maybe the 'public' buildings that they had prepared would indicate by a sign out front if the lot trait came with the pack? Anyway, the more I think about this the more I think it could be a great enhancement in the game! 🙌

Hi @SheriGR  All of the public buildings I checked had their exterior stairs as part of the editable lot, so if we had the correct items in Build mode then we could update those lots ourselves. Perhaps it would not be necessary for EA to update the base game at all. I think with a variety of ramp styles and maybe some other new items in Build/Buy, we players could update the community buildings wherever we choose. I do love the idea of adding wheelchair-access signs to the buildings so if they ever did make a pack like this, those signs would be a very cool addition.

For areas where it's not practical to replace the stairs with ramps they could add a stair railing system that could act as a lift mechanism to transport the Sim in the wheelchair up the stairs and to the next floor. So instead of a Sim walking up the stairs the platform simply carries the wheelchair along the stairway to the floor above or below. Platform lifts for wheelchairs using a rail system mounted alongside the stairs already exist in real life.

They could also add the City Living-style elevators in Build/Buy so we could place them wherever we need them. They already exist in the game anyway just not in Build/Buy. If the elevators in San Myshuno can perform the basic function of getting a Sim from one floor to another (without using stairs) I do not think it should matter if that Sim was walking or using a wheelchair. Whatever works for one should work fine for both.

All these items plus the wheelchairs could be part of a stuff pack & I think many players would be willing to buy it. Players who choose not to have any of this in their games could just skip the pack and their base game and EP/Game Pack worlds will stay the same as they are now.

@RandomBuzziness , well that is some good news in case they decide to do this.😉  The only problem is at Discover University's Foxbury Institute ... I know there are some ramps there, but the trick is getting Sims to recognize and use those ramps and not just sit at the edge of the stair and wave their hands like they can't go anywhere!😞  If they can make the wheelchair bound Sims always choose ramps, then  this could work! 🙂

@PugLove888 @RandomBuzziness Great points and ideas!! I also think that it's a valid option to have a 'black hole elevator' that can be added, and perhaps have the ability to then choose what floor it goes to. I would love having a wheelchair accessibility option - as has been pointed out, perhaps it could also be something certain elders could use also - plus, as I mentioned, making some type of black hole bathroom needs/use option may also be a nice semi-realistic/interactive option. Now I want a new pack!! 🙌

@PugLove888 @SheriGR I know the elevators currently available in Build/Buy are not usable for residential lots (though I suppose that could be cheated) but I do see they can be placed for other lot types. Have you used them in any of your builds? Are they functional elevators? I imagine they're only good for two stories rather than multiple floors like the elevators from Sim 3?

@RandomBuzziness , I am not much of a builder.😳  Also most of what I do build are houses, so I've never tried an elevator in a build.  @SheriGR builds a lot more than I do, both residential and commercial lots! 😉

@RandomBuzziness @PugLove888 I have also been curious about this. I will try them out and see, but I have always assumed they were specific to the City Living apartments and businesses on upper levels. In that case they are a black hole functionality (when you arrive at the penthouse or business you are exiting an elevator). That's what I meant... if they could make something similar where elevators could be added in BB with that black hole functionality. Since you have a specific apartment or business in mind when you use them in City Living, I assume it would require a dialogue box asking the player what floor they want to go to?

@SheriGR , or else just have the elevator only be able to go to one floor like in City Living? 🤔🤷‍♀️

@PugLove888 @RandomBuzziness This is what I found in my test:

• I built a multi-story building (residential). I added an elevator from debug/hidden objects on the top floor. The game will not allow you to add a second one on the first floor - it says only one per lot:
  
• I then had a Sim purchase the lot and move in. Upon loading the lot the sim appeared upstairs. But... When I click on the elevator there are no options, and if I click on the ground and tell her to go here I get the routing bubble/can't do:
  
• Scary stuff... If I moved her into a different lot and have her visit that lot as residential when she visits she is automatically transported to the top floor and trapped there when the lot loads. I had the same results if I made the lot type 'Generic' or University Housing. There is no option to make it an apartment building, which is likely the location needed for this to work?

@SheriGR , yes they would definitely have to rework those elevators if this were to work. 😞  Nice detective work, though! 🙌

@SheriGR Thanks so much for testing! All of this is very useful to know. So it appears that the CL elevators currently in the game are only designed to get you to/from an apartment to street level. They'd definitely need to be updated if they were ever to be included in a wheelchair access pack. I have seen a mod that says it will work for multiple floors and on residential lots but I have never tried using it.

Yeah, there's been discussion of a disability pack for the Sims before.  I do think it would be an expansion pack level of effort for the Sims team, at least, but it makes me sad to think of people needing to spend $40 to represent themselves in the game.

I googled for disability mods and found a super helpful looking list that I probably would not be allowed to link here, including a wheelchair CC (adapted from the bicycle).  There are also mods to let you use elevators in residential lots.  Also walkers, CC and custom traits for a variety of conditions, etc.