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Universal Design
Organizations
Accessible housing doesn't simply mean a
house with a ramp or lift anymore. Today, the concept of universal
design extends to all—old, young, tall, short, disabled,
non-disabled. A recent visit to a tall friend's newly constructed
condominium was very encouraging because I noticed the developers
positioned his sink and stove higher to accommodate his height!
Today's contemporary values require personal comfort at the
least—not just for people with disabilities! Words like
"barrier free" and "ergonomic" are now
part of the common vocabulary.
Therefore, modifying one's home is merely customizing it.
Nothing more, nothing less. Universal design accommodates
all—from small children to elderly, and it's a worthwhile
consideration in the planning stages of house design if a
homeowner is planning to stay in the same house after retirement.
Installing lever-type door handles, for example, or wheelchair
accessible entrances and bathrooms isn't any more expensive
than regular knobs and doorways.
When accessibility features are added everyone is welcome.
Home modifications can accommodate everyone from persons with
mobility impairments to those with vision loss, hearing loss
or even cognitive or developmental disabilities. Everyone's
home can be safe and comfortable. What's more, businesses
catering to the disability community have exploded. From homebuilders
to cabinetmakers, manufacturers of kitchen appliances to bathroom
fixtures, they all offer adapted versions of their regular
products.
This section of our site offers basic information on accessibility
in the home, but is by no means comprehensive. Books on any
number of related topics exist today, as well as organizations
and Web sites that assist people to live independently.
Adapt
http://www.adapt.org
An advocacy organization to keep people with disabilities
living in their own homes and communities with the help of
attendant services, rather than living in nursing homes; resources
and information.
American Association
of Retired Persons (AARP)
http://www.aarp.org
National organization for people aged 50 or over offering
diverse resources and benefits; the substantial Web site has
a search option to locate articles on numerous topics, including
those about home modification. Order a free copy of "The
Do Able Renewable Home," from a vast collection of publications;
AARP also maintains a library.
American Foundation
for the Blind (AFB)
http://www.afb.org
The AFB offers resources and information pertaining to all
aspects of life for persons who are blind or visually impaired.
AFB Information Center: 1-800-AFB-LINE (232-5463), or e-mail:
afbinfo@afb.net
Center for Universal
Design
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud
Safety standards, accessibility guidelines. products and services,
technical assistance, a database of public transportation
systems throughout the U.S., and many ore resources relating
to universal design
Centers for Independent
Living/ILRU
http://www.ilru.org/Directory/index.html
Look up the Center for Independence near you on The ILRU Web
site (Independent Living Research Utilization). ILRU is a
national center for information, training, research, and technical
assistance in independent living.
Concrete Change
http://www.concretechange.org
This organization has launched an international campaign to
make virtually all homes visitable (accessible to all) by
providing the most essential features; such as accessible
entrances, exits, and interior doors. The organization advocates
quick, widespread construction around the world.
Directory of Centers
for Independent Living
http://www.virtualcil.net/cils
Click on your state for the CILs nearest you.
DisAbility.gov
http://www.disability.gov
Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities:
resources, services, and information available throughout
the federal government, including information on the fair
housing laws and housing resources.
Disability Resources
Monthly Web-Watcher
http://www.disabilityresources.org/ARCHITECTURE.html
Thousands of the best disability-related resources on the
Internet personally selected by the staff of Disability Resources
Monthly and alphabetically arranged by subject.
Internal Revenue
Service Info page-Publication 502
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf
Complete list of items you can and cannot deduct as medical
expenses. For Instance, you CAN deduct porch lifts, ramps,
and construction costs to modify a house for accessibility,
as well as expenses incurred for same in rented dwellings,
guide dogs, etc.
National Center on Accessibility
http://ncaonline.org
NCA is an organization committed to the full participation
in parks, recreation and tourism by people with disabilities,
technical assistance, courses, information, resources, and
maps of accessible trails.
National Resource
Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification
http://www.homemods.org/index.html
This organization is a clearinghouse of information to help
elderly or frail individuals remain living in their own homes
as comfortably and as successfully as possible. Among other
things, NRCSH equips families and individuals with the knowledge
to plan for their housing, health and supportive service needs.
RESNA
http://www.resna.org/taproject/policy/community/HMRG.htm
A concise guide covering definitions; fair housing laws and
guidelines; initiatives from the Assistive Technology Act
grantees; advocacy, financing, modification, and research
resources; accreditations; online courses; and a bibliography.
(Probably the most complete list of resources available regarding
adaptive housing.)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
http://www.hud.gov/disabled.html
Disability resource page on locating housing, financing home
modifications, veteran's with disabilities, social security
disability recipient benefits, homeless ness, and more.
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