How Many Houses Need Access?: New Demographic Data and Implications for Advocacy

Currently a high percent of new houses continue to be built with major barriers such as steps at all entrances and narrow doors. When advocates press for policy requiring basic access in (nearly) all new houses, opponents often assert that only a very small percent of the population need accessible houses. Refuting this assertion, the presenter researched and co-authored "Aging and Disability: Implications for the Housing Industry and Housing Policy” (Journal of the American Planning Association, Summer 2008). The authors demonstrate that the common practice of citing the current percent of the population who have physical disabilities is an inaccurate way to assess the need for accessible homes. We demonstrate that at least one in four new houses built today will have a resident with a severe long- term mobility impairment, and as high as 60% of new houses, and describe how this data was derived. The presenter, who coordinates a national advocacy group pressing for universal housing access policy, will discuss how the data has already been used in specific advocacy efforts for policy change as well as the implications of the data for public health in terms of aging in place, mental health relating to social inclusion, avoidance of falls, prevention of injury to movers and other workers who carry heavy items, and caregiver health.