Does a house with Universal Design features look different from conventional housing?
No. Some people think the homes seem more spacious, but these features are virtually unnoticeable. They simply allow the house to be adapted over a lifetime of changing needs. Why Universal Design? More than 66% of the housing in the United States is owned, and the majority of this is single family housing. Most of this housing has features that limit basic access, such as raised porches, steps at thresholds, and narrow bathroom doors. Retrofitting these features in a home is costly. Sometimes the home cannot be adapted sufficiently for the resident to remain in the home. Universal Design can change that, and incorporating these features at the building stage adds only a minimal cost to a new home. What are the Benefits? Universal Design makes a home friendly and easy to navigate for everyone. Steps at the front door pose an equal challenge to a stroller as to a wheelchair. Families are able to welcome relatives and friends with disabilities. Residents who develop disabilities are mo
