Accessible Homes and Walkable Communities - Definitions Explained

Many advocates and individuals are requesting visit-able communities, accessible homes, universal design and walk-able communities. We want to create neighborhoods that are user friendly, especially for persons with disabilities.

Visit-able Homes are homes that have the common areas accessible. The bedrooms may be upstairs and not accessible but a person in a wheelchair can visit. People that use wheelchairs can make their own homes accessible but have difficulty visiting relatives', friends', or neighbors' homes. While modifications of an existing home to make it visit-able can be very expensive, builders report that building a visit-able design from the beginning does not cost any more money in planning or construction. However, the benefits are very important to those with mobility limitations, as it allows the individual to sit in another person's living room and other common areas, as well as access the bathroom. It costs no more to build a visit-able home than a home with stairs to get into the front door. Making all homes have entrances step free and with inclines of no more the one inch to every one foot is an example of universal design.

Walk-able Communities are places to live where cars are optional. Walk-able communities have a large variety of stores have places for recreation interest like parks, have safe sidewalks, and have access to public transportation. To find out if a community has a good walk-able score go to the web site listed at the end of this report.

Accessible Homes have design features that make it much easier for people with mobility limitations and people that use wheelchairs to use all the amenities.
Here are just a few important access-able home design features that cost no more to build then the old standard building standards:

32 to 36 inch doorway openings
Lever style door handles
Hallways 36 to 48 inch wide
Light switches 36 to 42 inch from floor
Window seals start no higher the 30 inch from the ground
Smoke detectors on every floor
At least one entrance without steps
Door thresholds that are no more then ¼ of an inch above the floor

Here are some useful web sites to find accessible and walk-able communities:

The national website to find accessible apartments is:

www.accessibleapartments.org

Also the Michigan Housing and Development Authority has created a housing search engine where landlords may advertise their listing for free. To find accessible homes click on the "handicap" icon.

www.michiganhousinglocator.com

To determine the walk-ability of a community visit:

www.walkscore.com

For further discussion on accessible communities, you may contact the DD Council's Transportation Workgroup at: