squats for deadlifts

i was wondering  if subbing deadlifts with squats would drastically change the program? i've had a bad lower back for six years now becaues i strained it while picking up a 3 year old the wrong way and when i tried doing the deadlifts the other day i strained itagain because the bar as no weights on it and so it is on the ground. I couldnt find any step up boxes to place them on to get the bar higher off the ground so i was wondering if it would be ok to do squats for both workout A and B? I know i'm changing his workout program but am i drastically changing it so i won't get the results this workout program is intended for (p.s. i'm eatng on a defiit so as to lose fat)

Lexy - If you really can't find anything to lift the bar off the ground, then yes, I suppose squats would be a good substitute, but have you thought of everything?  Maybe some weight plates, chairs, anything really to bring the bar up a bit. Maybe a stair step on one side and one other thing on the other?

Try propping the bar on dumbbells, one on each end....carefully!!