Home Modification A NARIC Resource Guide From the National Rehabilitation Information Center. Introduction This guide contains information useful to persons seeking information on making housing accessible. The information is presented in three sections: organizations, publications, and how to identify products through ABLEDATA. Organizations Access Foundation. P.O. Box 356, Malverne, NY 11565-0456. 516/887-5798; 516/887-5798 (fax). The Access Foundation provides resources for home accessibility and travel, including an extensive database on products and services, and a listing of travel agents who book accessible vacations. Adaptive Environments Center (AEC). 374 Congress Street, Suite 301, Boston, MA 02110. 617/695-1225 (V/TT); 617/482-8099 (fax). The Adaptive Environments Center, a nonprofit organization, offers consultation, workshops, courses, conferences, and resource materials on accessible and adaptive design and accessibility legislation, standards, and guidelines. The center's library contains a comprehensive collection of materials on accessible design. The center is funded through public and private contracts and grants and is open to the public. The center publishes A Consumer's Guide to Home Adaptation (available through AEC). American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049. 800/424-3410. Contact: Consumer Affairs (Member Services Representative). AARP provides information and referral and selects publications on various issues of interest to older Americans. Free publications available from AARP addressing home modification and accessibility issues include The Perfect Fit and The Doable Renewable Home. The Perfect Fit is a 20-page manual providing simple design solutions to general contractors and other accessibility professionals, whereas The Doable Renewable Home contains information to help consumers. Barrier Free Environments (BFE). P.O. Box 30634, Water Garden, Highway 70 West, Raleigh, NC 27622. 919/782-7823 (V/TT). Contact: Colleen Tarry, Communication Specialist. Barrier Free Environments (BFE) is a design firm specializing exclusively in the design of products and buildings to be used by elderly persons and people with disabilities. Product designers, architects, interior designers, and housing designers in the organization practice "universal design," BFE's term for designing and consulting services to individuals, families, and institutions on the following: home and building modifications for accessibility; design or redesign, and appropriate selection of consumer products and equipment for use by people with disabilities and elderly people. BFE has available publications on accessible housing design, accessible designs, and product information. In addition, BFE offers onsite technical advice or design services on any aspect of making buildings and products usable by people with disabilities and by people who are elderly without increasing costs. Charges for services and products are available and negotiable. Center for Accessible Housing. North Carolina State University, P.O. Box 8613, Raleigh, NC 27695-8613. 919/515-3082. Contact: Jan Reagan, Information Specialist. The Center for Accessible Housing conducts research on making housing accessible to people with disabilities. The center publishes several home modification guides. National Association of Home Builders. NAHB National Research Center, 400 Prince Georges Boulevard, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-8731. 301/249-4000. NAHB is a special needs housing research group and information service. This organization has several documents addressing various housing accessibility issues affecting persons with disabilities and older Americans. A nominal charge is required for all documents. Documents of interest include Retrofitting Homes for a Lifetime, and a three-volume series entitled Housing Accessibility Information System. For a complete list of documents, inquirers may wish to request a publications list. National Council on Senior Housing. NAHB, 1201 - 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. 202/822-0220. Affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, the National Council on Senior Housing focuses on the housing needs of senior citizens. National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). 687 Willow Grove Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. 800/843-6522. This organization provides information to anyone who needs assistance with kitchen and bathroom design or remodeling projects. Free directories, available upon request, include NKBA Dealers' Directory (contains information on showroom locations for latest kitchen and bath products); CKD and CBD Directory (contains contact information on Certified Kitchen and Bathroom Designing professionals); and Directory of Council Members (contains contact information on manufacturers and distributors of kitchen and bath products). Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). 801 - 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. 800/424-8200 (V); 800/795-4327 (TT); 202/872-1300 (fax). PVA serves paralyzed veterans, families, health care professionals, and all others with disabilities. As a national advocacy program, PVA focuses on transportation, architectural barriers, wheelchair design, and educational opportunities. PVA also publishes brochures and other materials on architectural barriers, research related to spinal cord injury, veterans benefits, disability-related legislation, and sports, as well as statistical data and technical assistance materials on architectural barrier removal and adaptive devices. Publications Accent on Living. Cheever Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 700, Bloomington, IL 61702. 309/378-2961. Accent on Living is a magazine which focuses on the needs of people with physical disabilities. Articles cover organizations, new products and inventions for people with disabilities, and ideas for recreation and daily living ($6.00/year). Also available: Buyer's Guide (1988-89 edition, $10.95), a 146- page source-book on products and services, and a computerized retrieval system for specific products or services. Design Lines Spotlight: A Barrier-free House, Part 1. Paraplegia News. 43(8), 39-42. Rigger, R. (1989). Available from NARIC: Accession Number XJ13845. This article describes home modification for people with disabilities who find too many barriers in conventional homes. The author looks at one home in particular with a barrier-free one-story build (three bedrooms and two bathrooms).The article discusses design elements that improve wheelchair acess (e.g., with concrete walkways at least five feet wide outside, ramps in front of house and inside garage, and all doors being at least three feet wide). Adherence to Department of Veterans Affairs specifications is highlighted. Details on garage and basement designs are provided. For the Rest of Your Life. Modern Talking Pictures. 5000 Park Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. 800/243-6877. A 28-minute videotape entitled For the Rest of Your Life. The video details some fo the 131 design ideas and products suggested by the Hartford House, a 900-square foot model home that demonstrates how subtle home improvements can help to compensate for changes in human sensory and physical functions that are associated with aging. Narrated by actor Hal Linden, this video can be borrowed for free for five days (up to a maximum of two weeks if requested up front). It can also be purchased for $25 (plus $5 shipping and handling). Note: To speak with a representative, the caller should remain on the line through the end of the automatic menu. How to Modify a Home to Accommodate the Needs of an Older Adult. (1990). Hartford House, P.O. Box 4460, Hartford, CT 06146. A free 93-page booklet containing over 131 design ideas and products for improving the accessibility in a home, products lists, and a supplier/catalog list. Cost: a self-addressed business-sized envelope with 75› postage affixed. Design for the Life Span of All People? Spotlight on Adaptable Housing. Rehab BRIEF. (10)12. Falls Church, VA: PSI International Inc. Available from NARIC. This Rehab BRIEF examines problems of accessibility in the home for people with physical disabilities. Topics include: reasons why accessible design has not been popular among architects; misconceptions that exist concerning disability and accessibility; and the concepts of universal design, life span design, and adaptable housing. The Well Adapted Home: Resource for Home Accessibility. TWAH. Dept. MF-1, P.O. Box 11927, Marina del Ray, CA 90295. 213/306-9416. The publication includes information on planning projects from beginning to end, including consulting and resources. How to identify products through ABLEDATA The ABLEDATA Database of Assistive Technology Information lists more than 19,000 products and devices. A NARIC Information Specialist can conduct a search for specific types of products. The following list outlines the identifiers (terms used to describe products) for architectural accessibility products listed in ABLEDATA. Call 800/227-0216 and ask to speak with a Information Specialist. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. (eastern time), Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. A. HOUSES house plan mobile home prefab house B. INDOOR 1. Bathrooms 1. Bathtub Accessories bathtub insert bathtub shortener corner splash guard slip resistant coating for bathtub whirlpool 2. Bathtubs General a. Bathtubs bathtub bathtub cabinet cushioned bathtub elevated bathtub inflatable bathtub portable bathtub shower bathtub whirlpool bathtub b. Bidets bidet sitz bath toilet bidet c. Grab Bars floor mounted grab bar for toilet grab bar for bathtub installation of grab bar wall grab bar wall grab bar for bathtub wall grab bar for shower wall grab bar for toilet wall to floor grab bar d. Handshowers handshower on adjustable bar handshower wall hanger handshower with faucet fitting handshower with flexible hose handshower with soap dispenser portable handshower showerhead on adjustable arm e. Plumbing Accessories electronic faucet extended lever for toilet handle fixture safety cover foam faucet protector for tub hot water heater knee action mixing valve lever tap handle push button faucet shower control system showerhead on adjustable bar single lever faucet soap lotion dispenser tap turner water flow control water temperature control f. Showers corner shower seat folding shower seat portable shower roll in shower shower bathtub shower cabinet shower doors shower ramp shower with built in grab bar shower with built in seat showerhead on adjustable bar g. Sinks accessible sink accessible vanity adjustable height sink portable sink h. Toilets electric elevating toilet portable toilet powered elevating toilet seat lift tall toilet toilet bidet 2. Doors a. Door Handles door handle lever door knob panic bar b. Door Locks chain lock door lock light exterior door lock with lever handle keyless door lock remote control door lock c. Door Operators door closer door opener powered door operator d. Doors General accessible revolving door accessible threshold door curtain door hinge doorstop and holder exterior door peephole protective panel space saving door 3. Floors anti skid tape detectable warning surface non slip floor covering non slip rug mat non slip stair tread covering textured paint additive 4. Kitchens accessible kitchen components adjustable kitchen components below counter refrigerator freezer kitchen faucet kitchen sink kitchen sink accessory kitchen storage system lever tap handle shallow sink single lever faucet soap lotion dispenser tap turner 5. Public Restrooms accessible lavatory accessible restroom stall partition fixture safety cover hand dryer portable accessible restroom tilting mirror towel dispenser 6. Storage cabinet door opener cabinet organizers hanger with extended hook kitchen storage system low clothes bar for closet motorized clothing rack pegboard accessories slide out drawer for cabinet storage shelves 7. Walls hand rail railing guard wall grab bar wall to floor grab bar 8. Windows accessible window window opening aid C. LIGHTING adjustable arm lamp adjustable height low vision lamp automatic night light battery operated lamp high intensity lamp lamp light sensor control lamp motion sensor control lamp switch extension lever light switch extension lighting control system sound activated light switch strobe light tabletop lamp dimmer touch light D. OUTDOOR 1. Furniture wheelchair picnic table 2. Playground back support for swing climbing structure jungle gym platform swing playground equipment reclining swing swing wheelchair exercise course wheelchair jungle gym wheelchair mobility training track wheelchair picnic table wheelchair swing 3. Surface Materials beach mat cushioned rubber mat detectable warning surface ground retention grid wood fiber mat E. SAFETY AND SECURITY 1. Alarm and Security Systems burglar alarm closed circuit tv system distress flag signal emergency alarm emergency alert system emergency evacuation system peephole power failure alarm system safe with keypad access security system signal system smoke alarm timing switch wandering patient system 2. Child Proof Devices childproof cabinet lock childproof electrical plug adapter protective corner pad 3. Electric Cords childproof electrical plug adapter electrical outlet cover storage reel for appliance cord 4. Lights automatic night light door lock light flashlight with alarm magnetic flashlight motion sensor light security power failure light strobe light 5. Locks magnetic padlock tactile padlock F. SIGNS access sign ADA compliance sign area of rescue sign bilingual sign braille sign car emergency sign parking area marker tactile sign talking sign G. SPECIALTIES accessible fountain ADA compliance evaluation software ADA reference electronic thermostat low vision thermostat room air conditioner snow melting system tactile thermostat telephone enclosure voting booth voting booth accessory H. VERTICAL LIFT 1. Elevators dumb waiter elevator home elevator 2. Ramps curb ramp folding tracks handrail for portable ramp modular ramp portable ramp ramp telescoping tracks van ramp 3. Stair Lifts exterior seat lift exterior wheelchair lift interior seat lift interior wheelchair lift wheelchair lift enclosure ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This document is available in several forms: as an electronic text file (this document), on disk, on cassette, in braille, and in printed form (both in large print and formatted with a desktop publishing program). This guide is part of a series of resource guides produced by NARIC and ABLEDATA. Those interested in distributing this document in printed form are encouraged to contact NARIC at the below address, and we will arrange to send you a free copy in any of the formats mentioned above. You are free to upload this document to appropriate online services, so that it reaches as many people as possible, provided that you leave the information unaltered. If you use this information in new publications, please verify prices and document availability. NARIC guides are updated occasionally, so you may wish to contact NARIC to receive the latest copy (check date of release, below). The National Rehabilitation Information Center and ABLEDATA invite your comments and recommendations on this resource guide; corrections, information about publications and resource information that is not included here, and other suggestions are welcome. Please address your remarks to NARIC, 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 935, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3319. NARIC's phone numbers: 800/227-0216, or in Maryland, 301/588-9284 (both are voice/TT); Our fax number is 301/587-1967. Many NARIC and ABLEDATA documents, as well as our databases REHABDATA and ABLEDATA, are available from our BBS, ABLE INFORM, at 301/589-3563 or FTS 427-0280. Date of print document release: March 1994 Date of electronic document release: May 199