Housing to Meet Special Needs of Families

Competency 1.03

Universal design: is a concept that makes houses, buildings and their contents easier for every person to use regardless of age, physical characteristics, and abilities

Developed by Ronald Mace at NCSU

Special Needs for Children

Install gates at top AND bottom of stairs Store all household (cleaners, medicines, etc)

behind locked doors Put plastic outlet caps over all unused

electrical outlets Tie cords of blinds high so children cannot

reach them Keep children away from any area that may

have toxic or lead-based paints

Elderly

Change all floors to be of one type (all wood, all vinyl) for better mobility. Remove all rugs so not to slip

Provide safety bars in the bathroom near toilet and bathtub

Provide safety seats in tubs Provide additional lighting in hallways and

night lights Provide lever handles on doors

Impaired Mobility and/or Wheel Chairs Trim doorway thresholds so they are flush

with floors Provide handrails on both sides of stairs and

hallways. Should extend at least 18” beyond last step

Grab bars in bath and rubber or non-slip flooring

Seat in shower/tub, chairs with arms, place to sit while preparing meals, varied height counters, room for knee space

Impaired Vision Mark the flooring changes with wide strips of

contrasting adhesive tape Use large type or Braille on any product that

would be considered poisonous (household cleaners)

Remove all furniture with sharp corners, glass tops, or that can turn over easily

Telephone should have large numerals or Braille. Preprogram all emergency phone numbers

Hearing Impaired

Install lighting to flash for doorbell, smoke alarms, and telephone

Use portable vibrating timers in kitchen. TTY telephone (can type message into phone

to be received)

Resources

Housing Decisions, pages 108-112 Housing and Interiors, pages 31-33

Copyright ©2007, ABCD, All rights reserved