Housing Design for All: the Universal Design Concept

Rosemary Cunningham

Will your apartment or house meet your needs for a lifetime?  Can a friend with mobility limitations visit your home? Is your home an easy walk to the grocery store, the bus stop, or your neighborhood library?

As we age, many of us have had to—or will have to—either modify our existing residence, or move to meet changing needs. Some people may be, in effect, trapped in their homes because of too many steps on the front porch, or a bathroom with a narrow doorway. Others may not feel safe walking in their neighborhood that has no sidewalks to accommodate mobility devices, no benches for resting, no crossing lights that allow for a slower pace.

Sadly, millions of people are cut off from their communities or are forced to leave their homes because of limitations like this. The answer to this problem lies in a growing field called Universal Design. Aging and Disability Services and the local Universal Design Coalition want to change the way designers and builders think about design for the lifetime. They're part of a growing Universal Design (UD) movement that is re-shaping neighborhood and housing design worldwide.

The goals of the local Universal Design Coalition are to:

• Increase options for aging in place
  
• Improve the health and wellness of seniors
  
• Promote the design of walkable, inclusive communities

Universal Design is for everyone

Universally designed homes and neighborhoods fit all users, regardless of age, height, skill, or physical functioning. According to Deborah Howe of the School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University, "Universal design anticipates diversity of ability and results in sensible, efficient, and realistic solutions for housing and streetscapes, buses and technology, and all other aspects of development."

Some simple UD features that can be designed for new homes or added later with home modifications include:

• Entrances without stairs, with smooth flooring transitions between rooms
  
• First-floor master bedrooms and bathrooms
  
• Light switches at a convenient height (44-48 inches from the floor)
  
• Adjustable height counters and sinks
  
• Adjustable height shower heads
  
• Wide doorways (at least 36 inches wide)
  
• Lever door handles

For a look at how attractive and functional Universal Design features can be, click here!

The UD Coalition actively educates architects, designers, developers, urban planners, and consumers. Dr. Sandra Hartje, Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Studies, Seattle Pacific University, has begun groundbreaking work developing standards to measure implementation of Universal Design Principles, similar to green building standards in use today. The local UD Coalition will use Dr. Hartje's standards.

Designing for a lifetime benefits people of all ages and abilities.

We can all thrive in an environment that entices us outside, encourages physical activity, and keeps us engaged in our communities. Keep Universal Design principles in mind the next time you make a decision about where to live, so that you and your family will have the option to stay in your home as your needs change.

For More Information...

Click here to see more photos of Universal Design features!

Go to "Links You Can Use" in this issue for more resources.

Rosemary Cunningham is Planning Manager for Seattle-King County Aging and Disability Services

Photo: Homes for Easy Living Design Consultants