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Are you 55 or older? What would be the simple improvements to make your home get you another ten years of usability?
AARP does annual surveys to assess the desire to age in place, and the means which people are employing to do so. This annual survey, in its fifth year, looked at who made what improvements and what was the benefit. 70% did at least one modification that made it easier to live at home. Half of them believe the simple modification will make living at home longer possible, adding as much as 10 years to the livability of their home. The 30% that did not make any improvements to their home cited physical and financial limitations.
The home improvements cited most frequently were:
- Levered doorknobs.
- Grab bars in bathrooms.
- Levered faucets in kitchen sinks.
- Handrails on both sides of stairwells and on front and rear steps.
- Grab bars in showers; removal of any door threshold.
- Movable shower heads for those who must sit.
- Portable shower seats.
- A bathroom with a bath/shower as well as a bedroom on the first floor.
- Widened doors to accommodate wheelchairs.
- Ramps for those using walkers and wheelchairs.
And who can stop at just one top 10 list? Here’s another that lists the main improvements to reduce chances of falls, the #1 killer for seniors - yes #1!. From AARP’s CDC report:
10 steps to make home a safer and more comfortable place:
- Install handrails on both sides of all steps (inside and outside);
- Secure all carpets and area rugs with double-sided tape;
- Install easy to grasp shaped handles for all drawers and cabinet doors;
- Use brighter bulbs in all settings;
- Install nightlights in all areas of night activity;
- Add reflective, non-slip tape on all non-carpeted stairs;
- Install lever handles for all doors;
- Place a bench near entrances for setting down purchases and resting;
- Install closet lights, as well as adjustable rods and shelves;
- Install rocker light switches; consider illuminated ones in select areas.
What are you waiting for? Get to work!
Konrad Kaletsch, CAPS
May 28, 2009
Universal Design Resource
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"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination.... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities." -- Barack Obama, April 11, 2008
Below are key points from a White House disability progress report:
1) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included a number of provisions of particular concern to people with disabilities.
--- The Act included $500 million to help the Social Security Administration reduce its backlog in processing disability applications.--- The Act supplied $12.2 billion in funding to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);
--- The Act also provided $87 billion to states to bolster their Medicaid programs during the downturn; and,
--- The Act provided over $500 million in funding for vocational rehabilitation services to help with job training, education and placement.
2) The President signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis. The Stem Cell Executive Order, March 9, 2009: (read the remarks) (read the executive order)
3) Strengthen Access to and Improving the Quality of Health Care President Obama has placed comprehensive health reform at the top of his domestic policy agenda. This means providing all Americans with stable and reliable access to quality and affordable health care. He will work with Congress to build on what works—including strengthening Medicaid and Medicare, programs that are of particular importance to people with disabilities.
4) Promote Access to Community Living Services Too many people who need assistance with activities of every day life are faced with a difficult choice. They can move into a nursing home and face safety and quality of care problems or risk injury or death by staying in the community without adequate services to take care of personal needs. The President believes that more can be done to encourage states to shift more of their services away from institutions and into the community, which is both cost effective and humane.
5) Protect Civil Rights The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark law that has done much to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. However, President Obama will push for more consistent and effective enforcement of ADA, which can do more to prevent discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications.
6) Expand Educational Opportunities President Obama supports educational opportunities for people with disabilities and will expand funding for programs like the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) that ensure all Americans have access to the tools to succeed.
7) Increase Access to Employment President Obama is committed to expanding access to employment by having the federal government lead by example in hiring people with disabilities; enforcing existing laws; providing technical assistance and information on accommodations for people with disabilities; removing barriers to work; and increasing employment opportunities for people receiving public benefits.
My own comments? PHEW! The historical trajectory shows that disability rights are the access point for a wider discussion on universal design to come in the future as our population faces the first impacts of an aging society. The dialogue, shut down by Obama's predecessor, is once again open. Did I say, phew!
Konrad Kaletsch, CAPS
May 21, 2009
Universal Design Resource
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Welcome to SATH, the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. Founded in 1976 and presently led by Stuart Vidockler, SATH is an educational nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers, to free access and to expand travel opportunities.
So why do disability travel opportunities matter to you? Maybe the better question is why doesn’t it matter to you? Or maybe you haven’t asked the question in a while and now remember traveling with a temporary disability and the added complications. I am sure your compassionate self believes in equal travel opportunities, but then your brain gets involved and comes up with arguments like cost, inconvenience and mistaken assumptions.
SATH is here to dispel outdated beliefs and put in their place a new reality that illustrates the benefits when travel is available for all. SATH educates and advocates. They work hard to coordinate industry efforts. They field media questions. They post news updates. Best of all, they are here for you. They are a clearinghouse of information and can help you skillfully navigate disability travel whether you are travel agent looking to enter a new market (hint-hint – lucrative opportunity), a hotel or transportation service, or a consumer.
Disability travel and universal design are partners in a better world that works for everyone. Awareness and a demand for inclusive design are necessary to bring about these shifts in design over the next years; the money is there (see below).
Begin by visiting the SATH website. Questions not answered in the site can be emailed to Jani Nayar who will generously assist you.
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES COULD SPEND $27 BILLION PER YEAR, SAYS NEW HARRIS INTERACTIVE POLL.
The Open Doors Organization in cooperation with the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) and the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) released a landmark study on the spending trends and market scope of U.S. resident travelers with disabilities. The study, conducted by Harris Interactive, polled 1,037 people with disabilities. The major findings of this groundbreaking study were released on January 16, 2003 at the 7th Annual SATH World Congress in Miami.
The study suggested that people with disabilities could spend at least $27 billion per year, if certain needs were met. These include a "meet and greet" at airports and preferred seating as top issues for the airlines while lodging issues include the need for rooms close to amenities and staff members that go out of their way to accommodate guests with disabilities. People with disabilities spent $13.6 billion on 31.7 million trips in the past year. The modifications suggested by the survey could increase expenditures by people with disabilities by 100% per year.
In 2001, the airline industry saw $3.3 billion in spending by travelers with disabilities, resulting in 52,800 jobs created to provide services for people with disabilities. The lodging industry saw $4.2 billion in spending and 60,000 jobs. The study also suggested that people with disabilities could at least double their spending generating $6.4 billion for airlines and $8.4 billion for lodging if the needs of travelers with disabilities were addressed. Currently travelers with disabilities generate a total of 194,000 travel-related jobs, $4.22 billion in payroll and $2.52 billion in tax revenues in the U.S.
The study was conducted to measure general travel behaviors including how often people with disabilities travel, with whom they travel, how much they spend while on the road, the mode of transportation and accommodations used, and on which sources of information they rely to make decisions. The study provides information that travel industry and related businesses will find invaluable as they seek to stem large losses following the terrorist acts of 9/11/01. The upside potential for both the economy and the travel industry is highly significant. TIA participated in the study in a consulting capacity, advising in the questionnaire design and validating the study and its findings against TIA's substantial market and economic research resources for the U.S. travel industry.
The Open Doors Organization is a not-for-profit corporation founded for the purpose of teaching businesses how to succeed in the disability market and to provide direct support to people with disabilities. The organization creates comprehensive programs and services that offer training and consultation and market statistics to both the public and private sectors.
Konrad Kaletsch, CAPS
May 14, 2009
Universal Design Resource
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The Universal Design Resource website is undergoing revision! When created, my intention was to raise awareness and provide information. For the revision, I have structured a tiered approach: First is a facelift using today’s technology making it easier for you to participate by either finding what you are looking for or by submitting your own material. Universal design is not so much a destination but rather a dialogue; the new UDR website will support that. Second will be networking opportunities similar to Facebook and Linkedin. The final tier will be a wiki-style knowledge base. In all levels of development, I will strive to meet the needs you expressed in the survey (which you can still respond to).
Here’s a quick glimpse of UDR Version 2.0:
--- More and better organized material for those who are researching universal design for their projects including internal search engine.
--- Focus on meeting the needs of professionals.
--- Courses, links, photos, hot topics & news and problem/solution forums.
--- Professional networking opportunities; marketing, codes, database.
--- Reading lists and resources.
--- Clean, intuitive look.
UDR website has an expected launch in late July. Until then, keep the feedback coming through comments at this blog, the survey and UDR email.
Konrad Kaletsch, CAPS
May 7, 2009
Universal Design Resource
Universal Design Network at Facebook and LinkedIn
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