ADA Accessibility

More than 25% of the US population has some type of disability, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life, including employment opportunities and both state and local government programs and services.

The ADA includes Standards for Accessible Design that outline requirements to facilitate access, mainly for public accommodations, commercial and recreational facilities, streets and sidewalks, and other elements of the built environment. The standards deal with features such as elevators, ramps, doors, and corridors.

Visitability

Over the life of a home, it is likely that at least some residents will have limited mobility for some period of time, or will have visitors with limited mobility. However, newly constructed homes often contain the same major barriers as older, existing homes, such us steps at every entrance and narrow interior doors.

Visitability features make homes easier for people who develop a mobility impairment to visit friends and extended family. These features also provide basic access to allow formerly non-disabled people to remain in their homes if they develop a disability.

All homes, whether or not designated for residents who currently have mobility impairments, should be designed in such a way that they can be lived in or visited by people who have limited mobility. This involves three primary measures:

1. Providing at least one zero-step entrance on an accessible route leading from a driveway or public sidewalk.
2. Making sure that all interior doors provide at least 32 inches of unobstructed passage space.
3. Installing at least a half-bathroom on the main floor that is accessible by wheelchair.

Useful Links

• Americans with Disabilities Act
• ADA Standards for Accessible Design
• National Council on Independent Living