Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

Inclusive Home Design Act Introduced

From Access Living of Chicago (March 11, 2009)

For Immediate Release:

CHICAGO – Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago applauds the introduction of new federal legislation called the Inclusive Home Design Act (IHDA). The new legislation, introduced on  March 10 by U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, will dramatically increase the number of homes accessible to people with disabilities.

The Inclusive Home Design Act aims to increase the number of homes accessible to people with disabilities by applying visitability standards. The principle of visitability seeks to create homes that are affordable and sustainable, and utilize a design approach that integrates accessibility features into newly-built homes.

The legislation intends to reverse a national trend that locks people with disabilities out of the housing market. Currently, 95 percent of new single-family homes and townhouses built with federal assistance fail to incorporate accessibility features, making it impossible for many people with disabilities to live in or visit the homes.

For the Full Release go to
http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2009/03/inclusive-home-design-act-introduced.html