This page provides links to websites focused on accessible and visitable housing. These websites are the source for most of the materials available through our Hawaii Visitable Housing Coalition website.
Better Living Design Institute
This initiative of the Ronald L. Mace Universal Design Institute promotes, educates and encourages wide adoption of Better Living Design practices. Better Living Design is a sensible universal design approach to improve how homes are designed, built and remodeled in America.
Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
The Center for Universal Design is a national information, technical assistance, and research center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, commercial and public facilities, outdoor environments, and products.
Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, National Disability Authority, Ireland
This center aims to help create “a society that takes account of human difference” and enables people “to interact with their environment to the best of their ability.” Learn more about accessible housing resources.
Concrete Change & Visitability.Org
The non-profit Concrete Change organization was founded in 1986 and is credited with launching the visitable housing movement in the United States. Information and event schedules are available at the Concrete Change Facebook Page. However, the organization’s website (http://www.concretechange.org/) now takes users directly to that of Visitability.org, which provides resources and information about visitable housing. Visitability.org states that it is not connected to any organization or commercial venture.
Global Universal Design Commission
Global Universal Design Commission, Inc., (GUDC) a not-for-profit corporation, was established to develop Universal Design (UD) standards for buildings, products and services. GUDC is currently developing UD voluntary consensus standards for commercial buildings, which will expand access to buildings for all people, regardless of physical stature and varying abilities. The approved UD standards will guide corporations and government entities in the creation of barrier-free facilities, providing diverse users with access to commerce, public services, entertainment and employment opportunities.
Habinteg Housing Association, United Kingdom
Habinteg champions inclusion for people with disabilities in the United Kingdom by providing and promoting accessible homes and neighborhoods that welcome everyone. The website provides a range of publications (both free and for a price) at its Publications page, and reports and other resources at its Policy and Research page.
Inclusive Design and Environmental Access Center (IDeA), SUNY at Buffalo
This Center’s primary goal is to produce universal design knowledge and tools that will increase social participation of groups who have been marginalized by traditional design practices, including people with disabilities and the older generation. Check out some accessible housing resources.
Lifetime Homes, United Kingdom
This is the website of the Foundation for Lifetime Homes and Neighbourhoods, which promotes 16 universal design standards that can be applied to new homes at minimal cost.
VisitAble Housing Canada
This is the website of the VisitAble Housing initiative of the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies, Winnipeg, Manitoba. It offers numerous publications, webinars, and other resources.