Following the ADA accessibility requirements can help make your home safer and more accommodating for people with limited mobility.
Written by Brenda Woods Updated 06/19/2024
National Disability Awareness Month is observed annually in March to raise awareness about and support the rights of Americans with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been in effect for more than 30 years, ensuring that businesses and organizations make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
Yet while public businesses and transit must be ADA-compliant, many homes lack the features required to accommodate certain needs. In this article, we’ll explore how you can use ADA recommendations to make a home more accommodating for people with limited mobility.
According to HudUser.gov , approximately one-third of U.S. housing units are only “ potentially modifiable , ” meaning they “have some essential accessibility features but would not be fully accessible without further modifications.” Fewer than 5% of units have the necessary components to accommodate a person with moderate mobility difficulties. Watch the video below to see what’s involved in retrofitting a home to make it more accessible.
Entryways, hallways, and all living areas should be easily navigable and free of obstructions. These modifications allow people with mobility challenges to move through the home without fear of tripping, slipping, or falling.
Accessible kitchens ensure homeowners can safely prepare food without needing assistance from others—allowing for independence. An accessible kitchen also makes it possible to host guests or participate in shared meals without being limited by the room’s layout or features.
Water and slippery surfaces make the bathroom the most likely room in the house for a slip and fall. The best way to prevent injury is to install ADA-compliant bathroom modifications for a more accessible home.
It can be difficult to relax in your bedroom if you can’t move around the space independently. Below are some modifications to help create a more accessible bedroom.
Install a chair lift: If your bedroom is on the second floor, you may need a chair lift t o help with going up and down the stairs.
Smart-home technology has improved significantly over the past decade. It gives people with disabilities hands-free control of household devices, such as lighting, heating and cooling, home security, and more.
Amazon Alexa/Google Home: Amazon Alexa and Google Home are both smart-home platforms capable of voice interaction and various tasks. They also act as the hub of all other smart devices, such as an Echo Dot , allowing users to control them from one central location.
Voice activation lighting: Smart lighting can be controlled by voice, sensors, or smartphones. Lights can be set to automatically turn on or off, change colors, and adjust brightness, which is especially useful to those with vision impairments.
Video doorbells: Video doorbells send a notification to your smartphone or smart-home platform if someone is on your doorstep. Some offer two-way communication so you can answer without getting up. This is helpful for anybody who has a difficult time getting up to answer the door.
Before paying out of pocket, do your homework to see if assistance is available to help cover some or all of the home modifications for accessibility costs. You may qualify for assistance from federal and state agencies or private organizations.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides grants to service members and veterans for qualifying service-related disabilities. For example, the Specially Adapted Housing grant offers up to $117,014 for the 2 024 fiscal year to help with home modifications.
Rebuilding Together , a national nonprofit focused on safe and healthy housing, helps homeowners retain their homes by assisting with essential repairs and accessibility modifications. The available modification types vary by affiliate.
Each program has its own guidelines, so read the requirements to find one that works for you. Be prepared to provide financial records and details on how you plan to use the money for home accessibility modifications.
Dwelling units aren’t required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This can hinder accessibility for people with handicaps or limited mobility. Homeowners can add many ADA-compliant modifications to create a more handicap-accessible home. Modifying a home usually involves costly updates, but you may qualify for financial assistance from government or nonprofit organizations.
An ADA-compliant home must be physically accessible to people with disabilities. ADA requirements can inform the design and construction of a home so that it is equally accessible to all homeowners and guests.
To be ADA-compliant in a bathroom, you must have at least 60 inches of turning space, doors must be at least 32 inches wide and open at a 90-degree angle, and the top of a toilet seat should be 17–19 inches from the floor. There are other requirements for sinks, faucets, bathtubs, and more. You can access more requirements on the U.S. Access Board site.
To make a building ADA-compliant, you can consult the requirements set out in the Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards. You can use this guide along with a complete copy of the ADA Standards to achieve an accessible home or business.
