Universal design and accessibility: life-changing for some, good for all

At New Avenue, we are passionate about making the world a better place. Universal design is a huge part of that. Today we want to share how the world of universal design has influenced us, and how our team members have used design to help people who are living with disabilities.

True Trailblazers: New Avenue Salutes Disability Rights Activists

Kitty Cone
A resident of the Bay Area since 1972, Kitty Cone lived with muscular dystrophy and worked to advance the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. She is known for organizing the 28-day 504 Sit-in in San Francisco, which influenced crucial disability rights legislation. As a proponent of independent living and disability rights, Cone worked with the Center for Independent Living, the World Institute on Disability, and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

We are both humbled and proud to have known Ms. Cone, who hired New Avenue to build an accessible two-story ADU with a lift to support her independence.

After Ms. Cone’s death in 2015, the ADU’s owners moved into it themselves. This is a testament to the true universality of universal design. What is essential for someone with a disability is also beneficial to people without disabilities. So we have to wonder: why aren’t more homes built with universal design?

Ed Roberts
Ed Roberts faced discrimination from the time he became disabled as a teen. As the first UC Berkeley student who used a wheelchair, he fought to make the university more accessible. He became an early leader of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living and went on to direct the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. He co-founded the World Institute on Disability, influenced federal legislation that protects people with disabilities, and became widely known as the father of the independent living movement.

Although Mr. Roberts died in 1995, he left a legacy that continues to further the cause of accessibility through Centers for Independent Living around the world.

Universal Design

One of our biggest goals is to make homes more accessible. That means making it possible for more people to own homes and adding to the available housing. It also means making houses more accessible for the people living in them.

That’s why we embrace universal design. A home built with universal design means greater independence and better interaction for its residents and their guests. It’s accessible for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and canes. It makes everyday items like doors, drawers, windows, cabinets, and appliances easier to use. It accommodates diversity on many levels and generally makes life easier and more comfortable for everyone.

There are so many possibilities for universal design.

Bathrooms can be expanded and made accessible. Shower controls may be placed where they are easily accessible by the resident or where a caregiver can use them without being sprayed. Showers and sinks can be made accessible, and with the right design and materials, towel bars can double as grab bars.

It may be useful to open a bedroom up to the family room, making it easier to include everyone in family activities and visits with loved ones. Natural light can make a bedroom more comfortable, and improved storage creates a tidier, more functional space. Wide doorways allow access to all parts of the home.

Kitchens can be redesigned to make appliances and storage more accessible. A homeowner may want to open the space up to make it easier to move around or install counters and railing at just the right level so they can be used for support.

There are so many ways to make a home universally accessible. Universal design goes beyond wheelchair accessibility to make everyday interactions easier and more comfortable for people of all abilities.

We love universal design because it makes homes more accessible for everyone.

We are designing and building ADUs, compounds and other innovative projects that expand housing utility. If you're considering an ADU, set up a free call to discuss realistic costs and schedules.