Introduction Of The Inclusive Home Design Act

Floor Speech

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of the Inclusive Home Design Act. This critical legislation will make more new homes accessible, or inclusive, for people with disabilities. I want to thank my colleagues Sam Farr, Madeleine Bordallo, and Jim McGovern for joining me today as original cosponsors of this legislation. I would also like to thank Eleanor Smith of Concrete Change and Beto Barrera and the staff of Access Living for their tireless efforts to move this legislation forward. This legislation is supported by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and many other national and local disabilities rights organizations.

Currently, only five percent of new single-family homes and townhouses built with federal assistance require any design features that make it possible for people with mobility impairments to live in or even visit the homes. The remaining 95 percent are built with unnecessary architectural barriers.

The Inclusive Home Design Act is based on the concept of integrating basic accessibility features into newly-built homes and builds on the movement of establishing ``visitability'' standards. Visitability is an affordable, sustainable, and inclusive design approach that will improve the availability of accessible housing for individuals with mobility impairments, including disabled veterans and seniors.

Specifically, the legislation would require all newly-built single-family homes and townhouses receiving federal funds to meet four accessibility standards:

First, there must be at least one accessible, or ``zero step,'' entrance into the home.

Second, the doorways on the main level of the home must be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

Three, at least one bathroom on the main floor must be wheelchair accessible.

And finally, light switches and thermostats must be at a reachable height from a wheelchair.

Adopting these standards for a single family home is not prohibitively expensive. The average added cost for homes built with accessibility features is between $100 and $600. Retrofitting a home, on the other hand, can cost several thousand dollars.

Architects and builders would also have latitude in how they comply with the act. For example, the zero step entrance can be placed at the front, side, or back of the home. The accessible route can even go through an attached garage. In addition, the zero step entrance requirements can be waived if the terrain makes compliance impractical.

When homes are accessible, it benefits not only today's disability community but also all of us who have friends and family members with disabilities. Accessible homes also benefit many people who are not currently disabled but may experience a temporary injury or permanent disability during their lifetimes. In fact, 3 out of 10 people will face a disability before age 67.

In addition, by making more new homes accessible, we also make it possible for more seniors to age at home--an issue that is increasingly important as the population grows older. In 2000, there were 30.5 million people between 65-84 years old; that number will grow to 47 million by 2020. 58 percent of people over the age of 80 suffer from some kind of physical impairment. Often, the prohibitive cost of making existing homes accessible deprives seniors of their independence and pushes them into nursing homes. Allowing more people to age at home will both save taxpayers money and help improve the quality of life for our seniors.

Many towns and states have already incorporated visitability standards. This list includes Chicago, Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Urbana, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; Iowa City, Iowa; St. Petersburg, Florida; Pima County, Arizona; Vermont; Texas; Kansas; Minnesota; and others. The United Kingdom also passed a law in March 1998 mandating that every new home become accessible. A federal law in the United States will build on the momentum that has already been created.

Passage of the Inclusive Home Design Act would mean that all homes built with federal dollars would be accessible, and the number of homes available for people with disabilities would be greatly increased. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation, the Inclusive Home Design Act, into law.

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