Universal Design is about creating an attractive, stylish space that everyone, regardless of age, size, or ability, can live in or visit. A home with Universal Design makes it easier for residents to live in, and for guests to visit now and in the future, even as everybody's needs and abilities change. In other words this is design not only for the disabled and/or ageing but everyone. By using what we have learned for ADA codes we can make a home that families can live in for years from small children to elderly.
ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act - This federal law requires, among other things, that all commercial and public accommodations be accessible to people with disabilities.
Tips that help everyone:
Limit Stairs - Climbing stairs is more difficult as we age. A ramp is useful, but it's usually not available in existing homes. When house shopping, avoid sunken living rooms, split-level and multi-story homes, and raised entrances. Also, make sure you have a direct line of sight from the front door to the street: keep plantings low, remove trees, and get rid of other obstructions. First, it will be easier to see visitors (wanted or unwanted) and the goings-on on the street without leaving the house. Secondly, if you are in distress—if you trip on the way to your front door, for example—others can more easily see you and dispatch help. Single-floor living: Having a
bedroom,
kitchen, full
bathroom with plenty of maneuvering room, and an entertainment area on the same floor makes life convenient for all families.
If a two story add elevators, or chair lift:
No-step entry - At least one
step-free entrance into your home —either through the front, back, or garage door—lets everyone, even those who use a wheelchair, enter the home easily and safely.
Wide doorways and hallways - With your home's
doorways at least 36 inches wide, you can easily move large pieces of furniture or appliances through your home. Similarly,
hallways that are 42 inches wide and free of hazards or steps let everyone and everything move in, out, and around easily.
Picture from www.discountramps.com
Leave Enough Clearance - In order for a wheelchair to be able to get through, you should leave at least 42 to 48 inches in kitchen aisles. The same rule applies in hallways.
Picture from www.ada.gov
Automate Lighting System - Home automation has come a long way from the days of simple garage-door openers and lighting timers. Today, whole-house control systems, like the
AuroRa System from Lutron, let you turn on groups of lights throughout the house from one master control or wireless remote. A system such as this, for example, allows you to enter and exit your home safely at night: You can turn lights off after you leave via remote and illuminate the entry and front hallway when returning. Some lighting controls can be hooked up to home security systems and will turn on all the house lights if an alarm is sounded.
Reachable controls and switches - Anyone — even a person in a wheelchair — can reach
light switches that are from 42-48 inches above the floor, thermostats no higher than 48 inches off the floor, and
electrical outlets 18-24 inches off the floor.
Picture from www.ada.gov
Bring the Outdoors In - If getting outside isn't always possible, allow those on the inside to enjoy nature anyway. Try French doors or large sliding doors that allow a view of the backyard from a sitting area.
Maximize Natural Lighting - In addition to illuminating a space, daylight has strong psychological benefits
for everyone, especially people that are unable to travel outside the home easily. Bringing daylight in can be as simple as adding a window or traditional skylight, or as complex as a
Solatube daylighting system, which captures sunlight on the rooftop and redirects it down a reflective tube into interior spaces.
Picture from tigergreenpower.com
Picture from www.top-building-news.com
Consider Multiple Shower Heads - Multiple water sources add flexibility to bathing arrangements. With a rain shower placed in the center, a more traditional shower head at one end, and a handheld shower near a fold-down teak seat with a separate valve to control it from a seated position, people of varying mobility can bathe in the same shower.
And Digital controls
Install a Curbless Shower- Any obstruction, even if it's just an inch high, can be difficult for some people, so a roll-in shower with no curb is best. To avoid water getting on the floor, you have three options: Build a shower area large enough so you can create a gradual recess to the drain, raise the floor of the rest of the bathroom, or install a drop-in shower with a flange that can be lifted up to serve as a curb when someone is in the shower. To make getting in and out easier, you'll also want to leave plenty of room around the shower, meaning spacing cabinets and toilets at an adequate distance. Low or no-threshold stall
showers with built-in benches or seats.
Picture from www.houseworksinc.com
Picture from www.v-hdesign.com
Picture from www.remodelista.com
Picher from www.houzz.com
Drains - There are new drains that are long and skinny for curb-less showers. As shown above the traditional center drain also works. I suggest using both. The center drain and the long skinny drain at the door to make sure all water stays in the shower area.
Curbless shower drain. Infinity Drain
The Closed-Fist Test - It's simple: If you can work a faucet with a closed fist, it's suitable for a range of people, including those with severe arthritis.
Lever-style door handles and
faucets, and
rocker light switches, make opening doors, turning on water, and lighting a room easier for people of every age and ability. An offset single-lever faucet is ideal because it can be operated with just one hand and doesn't require the user to reach so far behind the sink. You can also opt for motion-sensor faucets that activate when you wave your hand under them, such as
Kohler's Tripoint Touchless Electronic Faucet.
www.us.Kohler.com
Picture from www.baldwinhardware.com
www.us.Kohler.com
Bottom Storage Should Be Accessible - Most everyday items should be placed between knee and shoulder level. For storage below knee level, use a drawer or pull-out shelf, such as
Super Cabinet from Diamond Cabinets. This eliminates the need to bend down or reach for items in the back of the cabinet.
Easy-access
kitchen storage (adjustable-height cupboards and lazy Susans)
Picture from www.thecabinetfactory.com
Picture from www.shelterness.com
Remember the Details - Searching for a towel and robe when coming out of the shower is a mildly annoying task for an able-bodied person, but for those with severe physical limitations, it's a much more difficult undertaking. Consider a towel/robe hook right next to the shower, ensuring they'll be handy and easy to grab at all times. On a related note, include recessed storage in the shower for shampoos and soap. Keep clutter, cords, and anything else that may cause a trip at bay with drawer organizers that make sure everything has a place.
