Universal Design: A Sensible Way to Build and Buy Homes

Patricia L. Maichle, Senior Administrator, Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council

What is "Universal Design" in homebuilding and why should we use it? For the newly formed Coalition for Universal Design in Delaware the answer is "it is the most sensible way to build homes for our generation and those to come." The Coalition is made up of members from the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council; the State Council for Persons with Disabilities; the American Association of Retired Persons; the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services; the Department of Health and Social Services; the Delaware State Housing Authority; the Kristi Bingham Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Inc.; Mr. Grab Bar; Mephibosheth Housing, Inc.; Independent Resources, Inc.; the Arc of Delaware; Rebuilding Together; Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative; Easter Seals of Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore; ADC Housing Coalition; NAMI-DE; SST Technologies, Inc.; and Tull/Ramey, Ltd.

According to the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University (www.design.ncsu.edu/cud), universal design is housing for the lifespan of all people. "The intent of the universal design concept is to simplify life for everyone by making more housing usable by more people at little or no extra cost. Universal design is an approach to design that incorporates products as well as building features and elements which, to the greatest extent possible, can be used by everyone." It is subtle in its differences from barrier-free, accessible, and industry standard housing. The market for universal design in housing includes everyone at some point in their lives, and the movement toward universal design in housing and consumer products is becoming more viable as our population ages.

Examples of universal features in housing are:

• Handles for doors and drawers that require no gripping or twisting to operate, such as lever or loop handles
• Living space on one floor or stair landings big enough to accept lifts
• Audible and visual alarm systems
• Storage space within reach of both short and tall people
• Wide doorways.

"Manufacturers and builders who use the universal design concept will design their products and buildings to be as usable as possible by a larger population including children, older people, and people with disabilities," states the Center for Universal Design.

Persons with disabilities, as well as those who are aging, frequently find the search for decent, safe, affordable, and accessible housing a dead-end experience. Finding housing with even basic accessibility features (e.g., an entrance with no steps) ranges from daunting to impossible. People may find a waiting list to get on the waiting list in some parts of Delaware. People with disabilities and the older population still tend to be ushered to large congregate living facilities and institutions when what they really want and need is a home of their own that they can use on a daily basis for as long as possible.

Steve Tull of Tull/Ramey, Ltd., and a Coalition member, has gone the extra ten miles to make universal design in housing a reality in Delaware. Steve's response to the question of "How do we make this happen?" was to make it happen.

“The more people that know about these features, the more people will ask designers and builders to include them. Demand drives the market,” states Tull.

With the tremendous development of land that is occurring in lower New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, now is the time to act. Tull has offered to build a demonstration home for other builders, architects, developers, real estate brokers, policymakers, and the general population to experience. The home is scheduled to be completed this fall in Sussex County, where it is expected most of the state's new growth will occur in the next ten years.

"I think most of us would love to stay in our own homes for as long as we possibly can, and if we design those homes better they're going to be there for us when we need them," states Beth Mineo Mollica, the Director of the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative, in the DD Council Video on Universal Design. This is why we must consider this design concept now while new homes are being built in Delaware.

In addition to the home that Tull is building in Sussex County, the Easter Seals of Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore has offered the Coalition a portion of their newly acquired property in Sussex County on which to build another home demonstrating universal design. This home, when completed, will function as a training center for people with disabilities who are either newly disabled and need to learn to live in a home again, or people who have had disabilities and are interested in living in the community with supports. The Mephibosheth Housing, Inc., in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services and the Kristi Bingham Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Inc., will begin construction on an apartment building in Wilmington using universal design concepts in the coming year as well.

For copies of the DD Council Video on Universal Design or for information on the Coalition, contact the DD Council office at (302) 739-3333 or visit our web site at www.state.de.us/ddc.