HOME ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH BARRIER FREE DESIGN

WORKING WITH A SPECIALIZED ARCHITECT

BY RAMESH GULATEE, ARCHITECT

Most private homes in the United States are lacking in accessibility, particularly for those with mobility impairments. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990 and has set standard minimum requirements for accessible design, ADA does not apply to private homes.

ACCESSIBILITY AT HOME

Existing homes come with a myriad of inherent accessibility issues. Individual and/or family situations change over time imposing additional accessibility needs i.e., aging, accidental mishaps, etc. An ideal process in formulating the desirable accessibility options involves making a checklist of issues considered as barriers to home living. This checklist should be developed in discussions with every family member, and should include flexibility as an important element