This page provides examples of systems for rating levels of accessibility. These systems are intended to encourage builders and developers to seek high ratings in order to increase the marketability of their homes.
Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
The center developed its Gold, Silver and Bronze Ratings for Universal Design Features in Houses (PDF, 9 pages, 12o Kilobytes) to promote adoption of such features by builders and developers in North Carolina. A Bronze rating indicates meeting basic accessibility standards, with Silver adding some additional features and Gold the most features. Homes with higher ratings are more likely to attract buyers.
Lifemark, New Zealand
This organization provides universal design ratings from 3 to 5 stars for any new home in New Zealand to indicate how well it will suit a family’s needs over a lifetime. The website provides numerous examples and photographs of housing at the different star rating levels.
Livable Housing Australia
This organization’s publication Livable Housing Design Guidelines for Australia (PDF, 68 pages, 4 Megabytes) describes 16 standards that are used to assess homes. The lowest Silver rating requires meeting at least seven specified standards, which roughly correspond to visitability. The Gold rating requires more space in core living areas as well as additional accessible elements in the kitchen and bedroom. The highest Platinum rating requires meeting all 16 standards.
VisitAbility Project, Canadian Centre on Disability Studies
This project held the Awards of Excellence in VisitAble Housing for developments that incorporate all three primary visitability features and were built across Canada over the 10 years through 2014. Click here to reach a webpage with sets of photographs of the 14 winning and honorable mention homes.