pages: CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities/2016-06-08.pdf, 11
This data as json
body | date | page | text | path |
---|---|---|---|---|
CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities | 2016-06-08 | 11 | at the time. What we want is to make sure that the walls are reinforced to be able to put the grab bars in without having to rip out the wall, and we want to be able to make sure that the electrical outlets are at an accessible level. But it doesn't mean that you can't have outlets along the baseboard also. Things like having accessible counters can be easily achieved by putting in a breadboard, it doesn't mean that the whole counter has to be at the level of somebody. That would work for somebody in a wheelchair, it means that there has to be some amount of counter that that can be, but also there can be a standard or a higher level cabinet, depending on your preference. Beth Kenny: There have been some Universal Design ordinances, one of the things that's had a little bit more movement is the visitability movement, which happened in the '80s. And there are quite a few areas that have visitability statutes including Austin, Texas, Chicago, Lafayette, Colorado, Georgia, Texas and Kansas. So they all have a variety of whether it's a mandatory program, or a voluntary program, or parts, or a combination of where some things are mandatory, and some things are voluntary. And they've learned through visitability that they said to-date that 30,000 visitability homes have been built with mandatory programs, versus less than 1,300 visitability homes have been built with voluntary programs. So we want to be sure that I would recommend we make sure we get the important parts voluntary, and not mandatory to offer. I mean mandatory to have, and not mandatory to offer. Beth Kenny: How it has worked out with where we're at in the negotiations, it seems like there's going to be a few different parts of the ordinance. One part would be something that applies to 100% of new residential units. So, that would be any new residential units would have to have these accessibility features. I know one that we've talked about with Andrew quite a bit is reinforcement in the walls or be able to install grab bars in the bathroom and along the hallways. Some other ones that we've talked about as a group is at least one zero-step entrance on an accessible route leading from the driveway, or public sidewalk into the unit. That one, I'll just read the list. Beth Kenny: Another one is all interior doors providing at least 31 and three quarter inches, or 81 centimeters of unobstructed passage space. So, basically, that you can get through the door. At least one bathroom on an accessible route on the primary floor. The idea is to have living space on the primary floor, and if you're going to be able to live on the primary floor, you're going to need a bathroom. Reinforcements for the railings and grab bars, kitchen facilities on an accessible route on the primary floor. And in there I did leave out that the kitchen facilities themselves would have to be accessible. So, that would include leaving space for a wheelchair to be able to maneuver, and turn in the kitchen. That would include having a cabinet or a counter that you could use, whether it be a breadboard or not, at the height of a wheelchair. And I think there was one other element. Susan Deutsch: Sink? Beth Kenny: Yes. The sink that you can Susan Deutsch: Well, there's the faucet issue, but also if the sink is too high Beth Kenny: Yes, okay. Susan Deutsch: And there's also the faucet, maybe levers. One lever. 08/17/16 Page 11 of 19 | CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities/2016-06-08.pdf |