Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Accessibility features

[Ellen Keyne Seebacher (elle]

Mosaic Commons (Berlin, MA) specifically planned to have all our units
be at least visitable by those in wheelchairs, and we almost (with the
exception of two second-floor 1BR flats) succeeded.  Late in construction
we learned we could put "surprise basements" on some buildings, so a
few first floors wound up enough above grade that their owners would
have to build ramps to allow a chair user to visit without assistance.
(The irony is that I'm in one of those buildings, and I was in a chair
for a few months before move-in and now use a cane.)

We also designed features for aging in place, including tub/shower bars,
half-baths designed to add roll-in showers, stairwells designed to
accommodate chairlifts, and disability-friendly handles on exterior doors.

Our Common House (including the main CH bathroom, which has a roll-in
shower with a seat) was designed to be fully accessible, with the
addition of a chairlift/elevator.  But we ran out of money before we
were able to install a lift -- so people in chairs, or who can't
manage stairs on foot, can't reach our music room, fitness room, or
root cellar, all of which are in the basement. :/  A few automatic 
door openers would've been very helpful too.

-- 
Ellen Keyne Seebacher                   elle [at] pobox.com

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