As the population ages and more people live with physical disabilities, there is a need to re-examine housing and community development. Inaccessible housing hinders the daily life of people with mobility problems due to illness, accidents or age. Visitors to inaccessible homes face the danger of falling on front steps, the worry of not entering a bathroom, and the embarrassment of being carried down the stairs. An affordable, sustainable and inclusive design approach to integrating basic accessibility features into all newly built homes is a movement known as Visitability.

In 1988, the Fair Housing Amendments Act created affordable units in all new multi-family housing apartments and condominiums with four or more units. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act greatly increased the accessibility of all public and government buildings. But detached single-family homes and townhouses, where the majority of the population lives, are the last part of the built environment that is not covered by federal law. There are no accessibility codes. To date, private homes and townhouses continue to be built with the same basic accessibility barriers: steps at all entrances and narrow doors to bathrooms.

In an effort to pass legislation on accessibility in the construction of new single-family homes, Eleanor Smith, founder of Concrete Change, started the Visibility Movement in the US The movement calls for three basic accessibility needs to be met:

* A zero-crossing entrance on a route accessible from a driveway or public sidewalk.

* Entrances with a minimum clearance space of 32 “.

* A half bath on the main floor to accommodate a wheelchair.

If these three requirements are met in the construction of each new home, future adaptations for specialized needs can occur as needed. Visiting features make it easy for people with mobility issues to visit friends and family and stay active in their communities.

COST OF VISITABILITY

During the life of a home, between 25% and 60% of all new homes will have a resident with mobility problems. This can be muscle weakness, poor balance, arthritic stiffness, or wheelchair confinement. 95% of all new homes are built with steps at each entrance and narrow doors to the bathroom. Due to architectural barriers, the risk of falling in love with the owner is greatly increased and the success rate of first responders can be compromised during medical emergencies.

In 2005, 1.8 million Americans 65 and older were treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries and 460,000 were hospitalized. 60% of all nursing home residents enter these facilities directly from hospitals after a fall, stroke, or heart attack. Since most houses have steps at all entrances and narrow doors to bathrooms, it can only be assumed that large numbers of people do not return home after accidents due to lack of accessibility.

Below is a cost comparison of Visitability built on a new home versus Visitability modernized on an existing home. The cost of the nursing home reflects the extreme expense of “doing nothing.” (Maisel, Smith and Steinfeld, 2008, “Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visbility”)

Construction of new visits to the house

* Entry without steps on concrete slab: add $ 100

* Entry over crawl space or basement – add $ 300- $ 600

* 34 “door: add $ 2 to the cost of a 32” door

* Average cost of visitability functions, by region: Add $ 98 to $ 573

* Average cost of Universal Design features – Add 1% to total project cost

Modernization of existing home visits

* Zero pass entry – add $ 3,300

* Expand the interior entrance: add $ 700 per entrance ($ 22 for a casement hinge)

* Home elevator: add $ 15,000- $ 25,000

Nursing home costs

* Nursing home for individuals: $ 85,000 per year

* Nursing home for US- $ 122 billion in 2005 (60% of terminal cost by public through Medicare and Medicaid)

* Cost of falls among the elderly $ 19 billion in direct medical costs (Maisel, Smith, & Steinfeld, 2008)

LEGISLATION

Cities and towns across the country are gearing up to help their growing population of older people. With a shortage of affordable senior housing and the desire of most seniors to stay in their homes, home-based programs are at the forefront: Meals on Wheels, Home Health Care, Home Hospice , home physical therapy transportation from home. But for home-based programs to be successful, basic home accessibility must be provided. The possibility of visiting private homes is crucial for the safety and social sustainability of older adults with mobility problems. Without the independence to enter or leave your home or to use the bathroom when needed, older adults can become isolated, depressed, and ill. Visitable homes are necessary for the safety and independence of all: the elderly, the physically disabled, visitors, caregivers and first responders.

In the late 1980s, Eleanor Smith of Concrete Change began lobbying Atlanta home builders to incorporate Visitable features into their new homes, but ran into major opposition. Habitat for Humanity listened and today there are more than 800 Visitable Habitat homes in the Atlanta area.

1992- Atlanta Visiting Ordinance

Atlanta became the first city to adopt a visitability ordinance requiring that all builders of new single-family, duplex, or triplex homes, receiving any financial benefit from or through the city, must meet several basic accessibility requirements, including at least one step zero. proper entrance and interior door widths.

2002- Pima County Inclusive Housing Design Ordinance, Tucson, AZ

Pima County adopted the first ordinance in the nation requiring zero-crossing entry in single-family homes with open doors at least 34 “wide, lever door handles, reinforced bathroom walls for grab bars, non-stop switches. over 48 inches and 36 “wide hallways throughout main floor.

In 2003, the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association sued Pima County over the legality of the Visitability Ordinance. In a unanimous decision, the Arizona Court ended efforts by Tucson builders to strike down the Pima County law requiring minimal access on newly constructed single-family homes. By 2008, Tucson, AZ had built 15,000 open houses.

2004- Visibility Code, Bolingbrook, IL

Bolingbrook initially passed a voluntary visitability ordinance that was unsuccessful among home builders. In order for home builders to comply, Bolingbrook enforced the ordinance that requires all new homes to be built to the visitability standards:

* A minimum of one zero-pass input

* 32 “Clear Clearance Clearance Entries

* A bathroom on the main floor that will accommodate a wheelchair.

Today, Bolingbrook has 3,600 visitable single-family homes.

Inclusive Housing Design Act of 2009

United States Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-ILL) introduced legislation that would apply the visitability standards to all new single-family and semi-detached homes that receive federal funds. Currently, 95% of new single-family and townhomes built with federal assistance do not incorporate accessibility features, making it impossible for many people with disabilities to live or visit homes. Representative Schakowsky reintroduced the bill in 2010.

Since the induction of the City of Atlanta Ordinance of 1992, more than 50 ordinances of varying quality have been passed across the country. The legislation has resulted in more than 30,000 open-market open-market open market viewable homes, regardless of whether the first occupant has a disability or not. The states whose cities are adopting visitability ordinances or voluntary programs are: GA, FL, TX, VA, VT, MN, NM, KN, IL, OR, KY, NJ, MI, PA, OH.

ICC / ANSI A117.1, the accessibility standard referenced by most building codes in the US, is currently developing a Type C section that includes technical design criteria for visitability. This will provide an accessibility model that can be adopted in new single-family homes and will clarify the design of a stepless entry, accessible bathroom, and accessible doors. The standard can be referenced by laws and accessibility programs, thus promoting uniformity in applications and assisting in its interpretation. Note that the IBC will not require Type C housing units. If a jurisdiction or state chooses to require visitability in single-family homes, the Type C unit criteria will be available for adoption for reference. The 2010 edition of ANSI A117.1 will contain the Type C housing unit (viewable) specifications. (Maisel, Smith and Steinfeld, 2008, “Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visbility”)

References:

Jordana Maisel and Edward Steinfeld, Buffalo, NY, IDEA Center and Eleanor Smith, Concrete Change, Atlanta, GA, “Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visbility”

related links

IDeA Center: http://www.udeworld.com

Concrete change: http://www.concretechange.org