Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access

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Visitability as an Approach to Inclusive Housing
and Healthier Neighborhoods
Jordana L. Maisel, M.U.P. Presenter
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental
Access Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
on Universal Design at Buffalo School of
Architecture and Planning University at
Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo,
NY 14214-3087
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Todays Discussion

• Defining the Problem
• What is Visitability?
• State of Visitability Policy in the U.S.
• Policy Issues Surrounding Visitability

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Defining the Problem
Housing communities in Atlanta and Decatur, GA
vs.
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Defining the Problem

• Many homes and neighborhoods are inaccessible or
• off-limits to a large part of the population.
• 5 of U.S. population used some kind of mobility
  device in 1994, approximately 14 million persons
  (U.S. Census, 2000).
• 3 of Americans lived in homes with any kind of
  accessibility features, although almost 30 of
  families contained at least one member with a
  disability (Kaye, 1997).
• Over one-million households that have a resident
  with a disability have unmet housing needs
  (Kochera, 2002).

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Defining the Problem

• Impact of Basic Barriers on People with Mobility
  Impairments
• Social isolation
• Compromised health and safety
• Premature institutionalization

This current problem will only increase over time
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Defining the Problem
Aging of the Population
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Defining the Problem
Rise in Disabilities U.S. Disability Rate by Age
Source U.S. Census Bureau, 2001
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Defining the Problem
Housing community in Atlanta, GA
Courtesy of CNU

• Federal legislation does not apply to single
  family housing
• The Fair Housing Act Accessibility Guidelines
  (FHAAG) cover only multifamily dwelling units.
• Townhouses and single family detached homes are
  not covered by the FHAAG.

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Defining the Problem
Obesity Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1991,
1996, 2004
(BMI ?30, or about 30 lbs overweight for 54
person)
1996
Source Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System, CDC.
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What is Visitability?
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
What is Visitability?
Visitable homes in Atlanta, GA

• What is Visitability?
• In 1986, Concrete Change sought to make new homes
  accessible enough for a visitor with a
  disability.
• This concept was called visitability.

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
What is Visitability?

• Three Principles of Visitability
• Social participation is a civil right

Visiting other peoples homes is as important to
people with mobility limitations as it is to
other people
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
What is Visitability?

• Access is cost-effective if planned in advance

Source Overton, 2000 Concrete Change
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
What is Visitability?

• Simplicity promotes implementation (Rodgers,
  2002)

• Attributes of Innovation that Enhance its
  Adoption Rate
• Relative Advantage
• Compatibility
• Complexity
• Trialability
• Observability

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
What is Visitability?
Bathroom access
Step-less entrance
Accessible circulation

• Visitability Features
• One zero step entrance on an accessible path of
  travel
• 32 inches of clear opening at doorways and
  accessible circulation throughout the floor plan
• Basic access to at least one bath or half bath on
  the ground floor

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State of Visitability Policy in the U.S.
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
State of Visitability Policy
Variation in Visitability Programs

• Jurisdiction
• State
• Local
• Federal
• Scope
• Three visitability features
• Additional features
• Enforcement
• Mandatory (Publicly Funded Housing, All New
  Homes)
• Voluntary (Cash Incentives, Awareness
  Campaigns, Certification Programs)

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
State of Visitability Policy
Types of State Visitability Programs
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
State of Visitability Policy
Types of Local Visitability Programs
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
State of Visitability Policy
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
State of Visitability Policy
Federal Visitability Bill
U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D.-Ill.)
first introduced H.R. 2353, The Inclusive Home
Design Act, in June 2003. On March 17, 2005, she
reintroduced the Inclusive Home Design Act. For
the 109th Congress, the bill number will be HR
1441. "It defies logic to build new homes that
block people out when it's so easy and cheap to
build new homes that let people in," says
Schakowsky. The bill currently has 36 cosponsors
and is in committees.
Rep. Jan. Schakowsky
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
State of Visitability Policy
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Important Barriers and Policy Issues Surrounding
UD Neighborhoods
Housing community in Decatur, GA
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Barriers to Implementation
Reasons Cited for Lack of Implementation

• Lack of cost information
• Problems with groups organizing initiative
• Legal restrictions
• Opposition from homebuilders
• Delayed by political process

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Important Policy Issues
Policy Issues

• Value Conflicts Equity vs. Livability
• Primary Purpose Social Participation vs.
  Aging in Place
• Level of Access Basic vs. Full
• Type of Program Mandatory vs. Voluntary

Courtesy of CNU
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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Conclusion
Concluding Thoughts

• Lack of accessible single family housing in
  the U.S.
• Visitability is the first approach that has
  successfully
• addressed the need for more accessible single
  family
• housing.
• Policy issues surrounding visitability need to
  be
• addressed to ensure the inclusive design
  approachs
• continued success.

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Towards Inclusive Neighborhoods
Contact Information
IDEA Center School of Architecture and Planning
University at Buffalo 378 Hayes Hall Buffalo, NY
14214-3087 Tel [phone] ext. 329 TTY
716-829-3758 Fax [phone] Email
jlmaisel_at_ap.buffalo.edu Website
http//www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea
Funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education, National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research