Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: 4 P's, accessibility (was Sample Rules, Regs)

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> Mary Huang <maryhuanggd [at] gmail.com>
> is the author of the message below. 
> 
> I think accessibility (or
> universal design) is very important for aging in place.   Also I fractured
> my foot last year and I had issues with half a flight of stairs for about 2
> months. It is more expensive, especially the 1-2 elevators, to pay for up
> front but they are a fraction of what you would need to pay for retrofit
> afterwards.   We have someone in wheelchair in our group currently and we
> would really like to be inclusive.

A good example of why Universal Design is “universal.” It benefits everyone at 
some point in life or in one’s day. Some features are necessary 24/7 for some 
people but also necessary for others part of the time. So one or two people may 
need them daily, but another 60 or so will need them for weeks and months at a 
time.

One of our residents paid for an automatic door on the front of the common 
house. Everyone thought it was just something he needed. But it has been a 
wonderful help to all of us — caregivers with strollers and 2 children in hand, 
bringing in groceries, foot surgery, broken ankle, crutches for bad knees, etc. 
Sometimes it seems like the whole community is populated with people suffering 
from some malady that is greatly benefited by automatic doors. In reality it’s 
just that we know who is in need and have something to help.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org