Accessible housing is not just a good idea for those who need it - it is also a requirement to live independently. Some newer houses are built with accessibility in mind and there are many products available to make your home more accessible.

Universal Design

Universal design features are very user friendly and intended to meet a variety of access needs. This is a popular approach to modern building design, and although some features may be more expensive in the short run, they are usually very cost effective when it comes to overall accessibility.

Easter Seals, Easy Access Housing
Easter Seals assists more than one million children and adults with disabilities and their families annually through a nationwide network of more than 450 service sites. Each center provides top-quality, family-focused, and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves. This resource page from the Easter Seals website, offers a simple checklist as a guide for what to look for in an accessible home, and to help point out what features are necessary for homes to be adapted to accommodate persons with many different kinds of disabilities.

The Center for Universal Design
The Center for Universal Design is a national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes universal design in housing, public and commercial facilities, and related products. This website is helpful for architects and other professionals that design homes for persons with disabilities and their families.

AARP: Livable Communities
AARP is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of persons 50 and older. At this link, you will find valuable resources on universal design.