The Architectural Barriers Act  #ABA is the godfather of all #disability accessible buildings. They say, and I agree, that you can’t know what tomorrow might look like without knowing what has happened in the past. The history of accessible housing for the disability community has been a piecemeal approach and is often misleading to its coverage. You have probably heard about the Fair Housing Act because the law covers both rent and homeownership; it sure to cover everyone’s housing situation. You also might have heard about the ADA and the term “ADA compliant”. But have you heard about the Architectural Barrier Act? You should because it is the grandfather for every accessible dwelling for the disability community. The Architectural Barrier Act was passed in 1968 with the sole focus on making federal buildings and its leasing buildings barrier-free. Barrier-free only; not accessible in the way we think of it today. I think most of us in the disability community consider accessibility as all-encompassing. Not based on the dwelling being a  federal building and providing only accessible portions that are used by the public. That is exactly what the ABA is focused on in 1968 and even today. Preventing barriers to access the building and nothing more. It has no intention of making the building accessible to the extent one lives in like a home or even used 40 hours work week. Other laws have addressed the other aspect of accessibility. The ABA that only focused on accessible federal buildings caused a cascade effect. It allowed people with disabilities a physical presence in federal buildings. I believe without it, the 1973 Rehabilitation Act would not have been created that extended accessibility to programs run by the federal government. In fact, in a blog article I published, the longest nonviolent protest that occupied a federal building was people with disabilities over much-needed regulations to implement the 1973 Rehab Act. The federal agency at that time housed many social programs that are now separate federal agencies, one being the HUD. If you don’t believe me that the #ABA that allowed people with physical disabilities into a federal building to sit in protest for 28 days not have an impact later on the HUD,  well the ABA codes are often reflective in the American Disabilities Act #ADA in its guidelines and the Fair Housing Act #FHA.The advocacy and all of the laws after the ABA have also influenced the housing market business. By integrating a lot of accessible features into business dwellings, I believe has destigmatized or reduce bias. You see this when you find homes for sale that are all about age-n-place, mother-in-law suites, and other universal ideas are present in the mainstream real estate market. It doesn’t mean they actually follow the codes found in all of the laws. Rather it is more from practicality design.  A senior citizen with health conditions may not want to climb the stairs and want all major functions on the ground level. This practical design focus and reduced bias, has in fact standardize the development of homes or additions by purchasing floor plans  (read more in my blog) that are already designed for the disabled community. Learn more by visiting my website (www.horizontalhouses.com) and listen to the episode. 

On this epsidoe for Accessability Is Home Podcast:I discuss that this month is the 31st anniversary of the passing of the original Americans with Disabilities Act. July 26th is considered a second independence day for one out of five people with disabilities.  Despite the ADA literally creating freedom, it may surprise many to hear that it has very little impact on housing for the disability community. The ADA only requires accessible (not affordable) housing if it (1) the housing is open to the public or (2) federal or state money is used to build the housing. In another way of thinking about is that any houses that get remodeled or new home developments do not have to be accessible. So why am I talking about the ADA celebration on a podcast about disable homeownership? Well one of the biggest freedom provided is the right of employment free from discrimination. If you can do the essential functions of your job at home, then your employer needs to accommodate. But your employer may also need to make your at home office accessible. Meaning your employer may have to buy you accessible desk and other office furniture if your job requires it and you have medical need for it too. Having a home offie may be a permanent attribute to employment because of lessons learned from COVID. In this epsidoe I talk in greater detail about accommodation from your employer that could include furnituring your home office. I also discuss that even though the ADA did not require the federal Small Business Agency to give low interest loans to disability entrepenurs, it should and why. Finally, discuss what an accessible home office should include and resources to get the job done. For example Wheel Chic Home blogger is an interior design on accessibilty and has some creative locations for a home office. Don't forget to visit my blog that has even more information about an accessible home office in providing direct links to Amazon to purchase some of your furniturings needed at Horiztonal Houses.com Want to be a guest on my blog, podcast or want to know more about me? Email me at [email protected] and here is marketing material linkTranscripts for the hearing impaired available upon request .

Click Here for Free Handout!   This episode discusses how the idea of the single-story can prevent people with disabilities from believing that they can't be homeowners because so much attention is made on one aspect of the disability community - Voucher 8. A discussion is made that the disability community is complex. The goal is to debunk the fear of disability homeownership. The episode also provides a Rosetta stone of disability housing design to help navigate looking into buying a home to help the person with a disability believe they WILL find housing.    Want more? Check out my blog and book on my website: https://www.horizontalhouses.com/ 

This episode of the Accessibility Is Home podcast, continues the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the ADA (July 2020) by looking at other laws that have been passed after the original passing of the historical law.  The ABLE Act is discussed in greater detail and how it can assist in saving for a home.  The Supreme Court case that was passed five years after the ADA in 1990, Olmstead, is discussed as the first step of deinstitutionalizing people with disabilities and put focus that housing and community services must be provided. Without the supreme court case, accessible housing may not have ever existed. Finally, a discussion about the need to pass the Disability Integration Act as the next law that could bridge the gap by forcing insurance companies to pay fo long-term care in the home, and not a medical facility, and the need for states to increase affordable and accessible housing.    Want more? Check out my new website:     https://www.horizontalhouses.com/ 

This episode a brief overview on why it is not a good idea to try and just use open houses without planning your house hunting experience as a disabled buyer is not the best approach. Planning the entire buying experience is important and looking at finances is the first step. A discussion about the new FICO score is also presented as a key to obtaining that loan. Want more. Check out my website for my book and blog: https://www.horizontalhouses.com/    

The first show of Accessibility is Home podcast was originally recorded in July 2020, for the 30th anniversary of the ADA.  The listener will get a brief overview of the ADA and what portions relate to housing. More importantly a discussion about creating a strategy you should between the employment that the ADA protects from discrimination and seeking housing assistance. A discussion about the ABLE Act account, disability trusts, and other resources to buy a home. Finally, why it is so important to have a home.      Don't forget to check out my how-to book on buying and modifying a home to be wheelchair accessible on Amazon called: My Blue Front Door.  Want more right now? Check out my website that has more episodes and blog articles found at www. horizontalhouses.com  

In this special episode of the Accessibility Is Home podcast, we examine in honor of Black History month, what experiences might people with disabilities who are African American have when exploring their homeownership opportunities. Specifically through the eyes of the fabulous Ms. Candace Joseph, host of the “Business Knowledge Broker Hour” Radio show tells her own experience of looking for housing as an African American before becoming a member of the disability community. She then also talks about her experience of needing to buy an accessible home in Texas later in her life. Ms. Joseph and I also swap stories about real estate agents, house hunting experiences, and what wheelchair housing requirements we both have looked into. The robust and honest conversation is only the tip of the sword. Our message can only be heard through a large choir shouting the need to make homeownership for people with disabilities on “the table” for the housing industry. If you are a person with a disability and a person of color that has a homeownership story to tell, please reach out to me so our voices are much louder. If you have any surveys about the intersection between disabilities and other minority groups regarding homeownership programs, please email me at; [email protected] If you are anticipating beginning to look for a handicapped home and you would like some guidance, please visit my blog www.horizontal-homes.com or purchase my book on Amazon, “My Blue Front Door.”