Accessible Homes and Spaces

In a world where technology continually evolves to ease daily tasks, digital tools and applications are transforming the moving process for people with disabilities. From AI-powered home layout planners ensuring accessibility to apps that connect you with specialized moving services, this article will highlight the game-changing tech solutions that promise a stress-free relocation experience. Moreover,…

By Julie Sawchuk, Sawchuk Accessible Solutions Five years ago, I attended Abilities Expo Toronto, anxiously looking for answers to questions I didn’t even know I had. What I found was an incredible amount of information about accessible travel, different types of mobility devices, assistive equipment, evacuation chairs and examples of accessible public transportation (just to name…

By Jolene Montgomery There’s usually not much sexy about adapting a home to accommodate someone’s disabilities. So, I was intrigued to see this quote on www.wheelpad.com: “We love it! We love it! We love it! Thank you for…facilitating my mom living more comfortably in our home! (and for promoting marital harmony!)” I looked at the pictures.…

By Sarabeth South, Home Design Expert Accessibility in the home is something most disabled people never take for granted. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, which makes it difficult to create a model accessible home. While creating a home accessible for an ambulatory wheelchair user will look one way, creating a home that is accessible…

By Jillian Day There is intense competition for accessible housing in the United States due to a lack of resources. According to The League, less than 2 percent of US housing units are accessible. Now, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to find a home that will suit your unique accessibility needs; the process will simply require…

By Viveka Krishnaswamy With professional diversity and inclusivity initiatives on the rise, companies everywhere are starting to think meaningfully about how to enhance accessibility in the workplace. Approximately 22% of Canadians and 13% of Americans live with a known disability—businesses that work to better the professional lives of employees with disabilities are able to stay ahead of the competitive…

By Elyssa Horvath, Friends of Oak Forest Park The Festival of Abilities at Oak Forest Park on Saturday, October 27, from 3-7 pm benefits a landmark Playground for All Abilities, planned as part of the Oak Forest Park Revitalization. It will be the first accessible playground in Houston’s central northwest area stretching from the Heights…

By Rob Horkheimer, Bridgeway Independent Living Designs (BILD) We are fortunate to live in a time where there are a growing number of products and resources for people who are living with disabilities or aging and would like to remain safe and independent in their homes. If it’s not something that affects you personally, chances…

By Paul Denikin Making a home environmentally friendly is often a separate topic from creating a disability-friendly home, but accessibility and eco-friendliness do not have to be mutually exclusive. It’s entirely possible to make home modifications that benefit both your family and the environment. If you’re looking to improve your home’s impact on the planet…

By Troy Farnsworth, Professional Building Designer/Visionary During my childhood years I recall home being my safe refuge. My family was there to support me through the years and we had everything we needed at home. The majority of the rest of my time was spent at school, where my brothers and I met some friends with…

By Deborah Pierce, AIA, CAPS, Author of The Accessible Home Accessibility is usually a low priority when young families are house-hunting. Good schools, certainly, a modern kitchen—these features top most lists. Homes that are environmentally safe, that reduce the chance of injury, and that accommodate all our interests—these features aren’t even on the radar screen,…

By Deborah Pierce, Pierce Lamb Architects Kathy Tarantola Photography Lofts are intriguing spaces when it comes to universal design. Their characteristic open-plan layout makes them supremely accessible – minimum walls and doorways to present barriers to getting around. Many of the homes featured in my book The Accessible Home: Designing for All Ages and Abilities resemble lofts on…