Accessible housing benefits everyone and makes a property more livable—and more marketable.
When housing is accessible, residents and their guests—with or without disabilities—have a safer and more convenient environment in which to live and enjoy. Accessibility features allow housing providers to adapt to the changing needs of their tenants, many of whom wish to age in place.
Accessible features make the property more marketable, as it fits with the needs of society as a whole.
Housing and The Rights Of People With Disabilities
Federal laws define a person with a disability as “Any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment.”
In general, a physical or mental impairment includes hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, and mental retardation that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include walking, talking, hearing, seeing, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, and caring for oneself.
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