Featured Entries
Know a good UD website or resource?
The Accessible Virtual Community
Homes and Lodging
Accessible solutions for homes, human centered design, and assistive technology are only some of the considerations for homes and residences. The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) and many other organizations that serve our 'older' population are actively involved in improving homes to allow people to live independently in their own residence for as long as possible. In addition to these key resources, you can search for more related information on our Search Page.
33 items
'Universal Design' Concepts Can Keep You in the Home and Community You Love
This website, from Arlington County, Virginia, offers easy to use tips and practical information on making your home universally designed. A photo gallery demonstrates examples.
Official Site of Arlington County, Virginia
Accessibility and Visitability Features in Single-family Homes: A Review of State and Local Activity
This paper is part of AARP’s Public Policy Institute research into independent living and housing issues. The article includes a look at international trends.
AARP
Accessibility Requirements for Buildings
This article by the U.S. Department of Housing provides information on the housing accessibility requirements for both private and federally assisted housing.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Accessibility Upgrades for Toilets
Raising the height and providing grab bars are just two of many things you can do to make toilets easier for everyone to use. This web page article offers things to be aware of.
AARP
Accessible Solutions from Bob Vila
This website page includes accessibility concerns from the work of Bob Vila (This Old House TV show). Many accessibility topics have "how to" videos.
Bob Vila
ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities
This website provides information on accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities. This website contains a table of contents on all important aspects of building and facilities.
ADA Accessibility Guidelines
ADAAG SURVEY FORM 17: BATHTUBS AND SHOWERS
This website provides a checklist presents information in summary form on the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Access Board regulations implementing the ADA on bathtubs and showers. This checklists for bathtubs and showers addresses issues of entry, type of shower head, grab bars, clearance, public versus private use, common hazards, and many more.
United States Access Board
AGING IN PLACE & UNIVERSAL DESIGN RESOURCES
This PDF document is loaded with resources for aging in place, including statistics, initiatives, scholarly articles, etc.
California Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing Policy Development Division
Apartment Accessibility
This webpage includes an "AT Quick Reference" guide to help individuals adapt their apartment to become more accessible. There are also answers to frequently asked questions regarding tenant life, which range from ADA accommodations to easy modifications to make.
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA)
Award Worthy Universally Designed Buildings
This link provides information on the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore who awarded owners and architects for their universally designed buildings. The link also lists the most accessible and friendly buildings in Singapore. The BCA also explains accessibility and universal design.
Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore
Bathroom Accommodations
This webpage includes an "AT Quick Reference" guide to help individuals adapt their bathrooms to be more accessible. This webpage answers frequently asked questions regarding the best ways to adapt the bathroom.
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA)
Bedroom Accommodations
This webpage includes an "AT Quick Reference" guide to help individuals make accommodations to their bedroom and adapt their apartment to become more accessible. There are also answers to frequently asked questions regarding bedroom accommodations.
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA)
Center for Universal Design: Environments and Products for All People
The Center for Universal Design provides resources to improve environments and products through design innovation, research, education, and design assistance. This webpage lists Center News, Publications, and Programs.
The Center for Universal Design
Centers for Independent Living - Independent Living Research Utilization
This website includes discussion boards, publications and training. ILRU is a program of TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research), a nationally recognized medical rehabilitation facility for persons with disabilities. The ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) program is a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living. Its goal is to expand the body of knowledge in independent living and to improve utilization of results of research programs and demonstration projects in this field.
TIRR Memorial Hermann
Disability Rights Laws Applicable to Student Housing
Disability rights laws applicable to student housing, including ADA, Architectural Barriers Act, FHA, and information pertaining to other local laws.
DBTAC Southwest ADA Center
Dynamic Living
Dynamic-Living.com is a website that allows people to search for and purchase daily living aids. Consumers can search by use such as moving around, sitting/standing, hands, vision, hearing, and communicating, etc… Also, consumers can search by location such as car, bathroom, shower and tub, toilet, medicine cabinet, dressing room, bedroom, and kitchen, etc… Approximately half way down the webpage is a brief (3 minute) video about a bathroom that was made for accessibility but is also aesthetically pleasing.
Dynamic-Living
Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST Program
Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is an initiative designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. The program offers comprehensive and detailed instruction programs, useful online web resources, and a toll-free information line for technical guidance and support.. This website has several resources and links regarding home design.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Home Features and Products Using Universal Design
This web page article offers basics of building homes for the accessibility, safety, comfort and convenience of everyone.
AARP
In Brief: Accessibility and Visitability Features in Single-family Homes: A Review of State and Local Activity
This web page offers a summary of a full policy document from AARP (also available on this website).
AARP
Legal Issues Surrounding Housing and Residential Life
This article by Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D. addresses the ADA legal issues surrounding both college housing along with typical residential life. Burgstahler addresses key areas of concern, offers general guidance, and provides resources regarding disability access issues.
DO-IT, Washington University
Rebuilding New Orleans for Everyone
In the brief article, Rebuilding New Orleans– for Everyone, occupational therapy students made universal design recommendations for individuals who lost their homes in hurricane Katrina.
Ashley Hofmann, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
Refrigerators and Accessibility
This web page offers information regarding refrigerators and their accessibility. Some adults are short. Others can't raise their arms. Many use wheelchairs.
AARP
Residential Rehabilitation, Remodeling and Universal Design
This 27 page guide explains general accessibility features every home should include in order to accommodate homeowners with various abilities and needs in the future. The guide includes a list of priority features, select important universal features, and diagrams of how to remodel/build an accessible home inside and out.
The Center for Universal Design, NC State University College of Design
Residential Remodeling and Universal Design: Making Homes More Comfortable and Accessible
This comprehensive (127 pages) publication (1996) from the USHUD assists homeowners, remodelers and contractors to implement universal design (UD) features into already existing homes. It contains a description of universal design and how to install design features in each room of the home, as well as the exterior. Its appendices offer accessibility standards and other useful references and resources.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS Home Automation Technology for Easy, Safe, and Accessible Living
This 54 page book describes how relatively inexpensive home technology can benefit everyone from individuals with a disability to parents of small children. This book was produced by The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University.
Jerome, J. The Center for Universal Design
Supplement to Notice of Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines
This document provides questions and answers about the federal guidelines of the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines that are applicable to certain multifamily dwellings designed and constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. This document reproduces questions that have been raised most frequently by members of the public, and the Department's answers to these questions.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The Independent Living Institute (ILI)
This is the website of a policy development center, in Sweden, specializing in consumer-driven policies for disabled peoples' self-determination, self-respect and dignity. The site includes a virtual library and interactive services for persons with disabilities. Links are available to Independent Living Columnists around the world.
Independent Living Institute, Stockholm-Johanneshov, Sweden
Tools For Introducing Human-Centered Design
From the "Universal Design Education Online" website, in addition to available slide shows (you must register to access) there is a series of 6 "Universal Design Building Surveys". Survey #2 has parking & access.
Universal Design Education Online
Universal Design and Housing
This brochure defines universal design and its 7 principles. It also answers questions regarding the difference between universal design and other types of accessible design, visitability, types of houses and types of people that would benefit from universal design as well as universal design versus home remodeling and renovations or upgrades to existing homes.
Institute for Human Centered Design
Universal Design in Daily Necessities
This website developed by Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture describes daily necessities that are universally designed.
Department of Community Affairs, Shizuoka, Japan
Universal Design in Housing
In this 1996 article written by one of the founders of universal design, “universal design in housing” is described as a growing and beneficial concept. It is subtle in its differences from barrier-free, accessible, and industry standard housing. Accessibility standards and codes have not mandated universal design and do not apply to most housing. Universal design exceeds their minimum specifications for accessible design and results in homes that are usable by and marketable to almost everyone. Universal homes avoid use of special assistive technology devices and, instead, incorporate consumer products and design features that are easily usable and commonly available.
Mace, R. Assistive Technology
Universal Design in the Kitchen
This video highlights the features of the kitchen in the CRDA Universal Design Demo home. In it you will find a lot of good ideas for your own home modifications. Pay particular attention to the kitchen sink. Accesssiblity of kitchen componenents
AgeInPlace.com
Universal Home Design
This web site provides several links to improve the designs of homes. This site focuses on ways to univerally design the home.
AARP
