Informed Consumer's Guide to Accessible Housing

The Informed Consumer's Guide to Accessible Housing is a publication of ABLEDATA, which is a (US) federally funded project whose primary mission is to provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international source to consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the United States. They will provide information and assistance to anyone, anywhere.

For most people, a home is more than a building: it is a state of mind, an expression of personality, the one place where it is possible simply to be. The type of homes in which people live reflect their tastes and priorities. Deciding to change that home, whether through remodelling or relocation, is a major decision. Finding the right home or apartment requires attention to a myriad of details: price range, location, aesthetics, overall floor space, the number of bedrooms, and more. People with disabilities face the same considerations, but as important as they are, they are overshadowed by the need for housing to be accessible: housing that enables people with disabilities to live their lives as independently as possible.
If a house is inadequate for the needs of the people living in it, it never quite becomes a home. For people with disabilities, a dwelling must be fully accessible to become a home. The purpose of the Informed Consumer Guide to Accessible Housing is to examine what accessible housing is, to discuss the types of products available to achieve accessibility, and to offer resources to assist in this endeavor. It is a broad introduction to the legal and practical aspects of accessible housing.

Information is included on:

• What is Accessible Housing?
• Access and Rental
• Achieving Accessibility
• Hearing Disabilities
• Visual Disabilities
• Physical and Mobility Disabilities i.e. Doors & Entrances; Hallways, Baths & Kitchens; Storage & Bathrooms
• Resources and Recommended Additional Reading

Contact at:

ABLEDATA 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 930 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Telephone: (301) 608-8998 Fax: (301) 608-8958 Web site: www.abledata.com

Description of Resource: 31 pages

Approximate Cost: downloadable Printed copies may be ordered