Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Experiences with/as disabled people in cohousing

[Philip Dowds (rphilipdowds]

To simple this up a bit, I’ll set aside common disabilities such as blindness 
and deafness, and focus on what we tend to think of when we hear “disabled”:  
mobility impairment, such that the disabled person engages in most activities 
and participation while seated in a wheelchair (or more recently, on an 
electric scooter).  My questions are about the complete accessibility of common 
kitchens.  For those of you living in established communities ...

     ? Can you list the accessibility features you’ve designed into your common 
kitchens?  That is, 34” counter heights, 5’ turning radii, roll-under sinks and 
cook-tops, specially configured appliances, storage and controls limited to the 
heights approved for side and forward reach, and so on?  Are such features 
offered in just a part of the kitchen, or are they the universal standard for 
the entire kitchen?
     ? And, if you have mobility-impaired residents, do any of them regularly 
(or occasionally) take on a significant role in preparing, serving and cleaning 
up for community meals?

Thanks,
Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Cohousing
Cambridge, MA

> On Mar 5, 2018, at 11:16 AM, Ann Lehman <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com> wrote:
> 
> From Karen Jolly who is a partially disable member of our community 
> 
> “First, there must be complete accessibility.  Our building does not meet 
> that requirement.
> 
> The community must recognize that the community tasks need to be assigned 
> with abilities in mind.  This means some folks may do the same task 
> indefinitely (like mopping floors) and there may not be an equal division of 
> responsibility.
> 
> The issue of potential extra care should be addressed.
> 
> Personally, cohousing is an excellent choice as long as the community has 
> addressed the extra care that may be required.  
> 
> Karen”
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Mar 4, 2018, at 5:56 PM, Joan Sidney <jssidney [at] sidneyfamily.org> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> As someone in a power wheelchair interested in co-housing, please share any
>> info. Thanks, Joan
>> 
>>> On Sun, Mar 4, 2018 at 8:27 PM, Allison Tom <allison.tom [at] telus.net> 
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello all,
>>> 
>>> I am working with a group of others from forming cohousing communities in
>>> the Vancouver, BC, area. We are planning to host a session about disability
>>> in cohousing at the upcoming Canadian Cohousing Conference.
>>> 
>>> I met today with the others in this panel. Turns out we all have
>>> experience with disability in some form, but none of us has yet lived in
>>> cohousing.
>>> 
>>> The four of us have all run across attitudes ranging from caution to
>>> hostility from experienced cohousers when we’ve talked about wanting to be
>>> sure “inclusivity” includes disabled people.  I think we need to learn more
>>> about what lies behind this apprehension.
>>> 
>>> I would love to hear from anyone who is willing to talk to me about
>>> experiences that have given rise to this caution, as well as experiences
>>> that might counter the caution. Please feel free to reply on or off list. I
>>> won’t repeat any stories without specific permission.
>>> 
>>> Thank you,
>>> 
>>> Allison Tom
>>> Allison.tom [at] telus.net
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Joan Seliger Sidney <http://www.joanseligersidney.org/>
>> Body of Diminishing Motion
>> <http://www.joanseligersidney.org/diminishing.html> (CavanKerry), Eric
>> Hoffer Legacy Finalist 2015
>> Bereft and Blessed <http://www.joanseligersidney.org/bereft.html>
>> (Antrimhouse)
>> Special Research Associate / Writer in Residence
>> University of Connecticut Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish
>> Life
>> http://www.joanseligersidney.org
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
>> http://l.cohousing.org/info
>> 
>> 
>> 
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